PINK ICED ANIMAL COOKIES RECIPES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and line 2 baking sheets with parchment.
• In the bowl of a stand mixer, cream together the butter, sugar and salt until pale and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Beat in the egg and vanilla and almond extracts. Gradually mix in the flour until combined.
• Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface. (Alternatively, you can divide it in half, wrap it in plastic wrap and refrigerate it for up to 2 days before proceeding to the next step.) Roll out the dough until it's 3/16 inch thick. Cut out twelve 3-inch circles using a cookie or biscuit cutter. Use a 3/4- to 1-inch-wide star cookie cutter or smaller circle to cut out a hole in the center. Place the cookies on one of the prepared baking sheets. Reroll the dough and cutouts and punch out 12 more 3-inch circles. Place the circles on the second baking sheet.
• Bake the cookies until set but still pale, about 10 minutes. Cool completely on a wire rack.
• In a double boiler, melt the white chocolate chips. Stir in the pistachios and a drop of green food coloring, if desired.
• Once the cookies are cool, spread a thick layer of the white chocolate in the center of a cookie and then squish into a sandwich with one of the cutout cookies. Sprinkle the center with additional pistachios and/or sprinkles, if using. Repeat with the remaining cookies. Let stand at room temperature or in the fridge until set, about 5 minutes.

Steps:

• In a medium mixing bowl, combine the flour, ground hazelnuts, baking powder, and salt and set aside. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream together the butter, sugars, and orange zest on medium high until pale and fluffy, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating after each, and then add the vanilla.
• Reduce the speed to low and gradually add the flour mixture, mixing until blended. At this point you can wrap the dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for an hour, or up to two days, or you can get going on rolling out your dough and cutting out your cookies immediately.
• When ready to bake, set an oven rack in the middle position. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Line two baking sheets with parchment and set aside.
• Working with half of the dough at a time, roll it out on a lightly floured surface to a thickness that’s just under 1/2-inch-thick. Cut out 2 1/2-inch circles with a biscuit cutter and then transfer to a baking sheet, 1-inch apart. Re-roll scraps and cut out more shapes. Bake until they’re lightly browned on the bottom; begin checking for doneness at 12 minutes. Let cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes and then carefully transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
• Spoon a teaspoon of chocolate onto the top of each cookie, and spread it around with a spoon into a little Gelt-sized circle. Top with sprinkles and let set in the fridge or at room temperature. Enjoy!
• To make the gelt, melt the chocolate in a double boiler or in a microwavable bowl in 30-second increments, stirring after each. Melt until it’s just smooth and then remove from heat.