Get creative when painting the glaze onto the trees. Windswept cedars, bending pines and evergreen boughs dotted with tiny bobbles look wintry and festive.
- Prep time 1 hour
- Total time 2 hours & 30 minutes
Ingredients
Method
In large bowl, beat butter with sugar until fluffy; beat in egg and vanilla. In separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder and salt; stir into butter mixture in 2 additions just until combined. If necessary, knead gently to form smooth dough. Divide dough in half; shape into discs. Wrap in plastic wrap; refrigerate until firm, about 1 hour. (Make-ahead: Refrigerate for up to 24 hours.)
Let dough stand at room temperature until soft enough to roll out, about 15 minutes. Between waxed paper or on lightly floured work surface, roll out dough to scant 1/4-inch (5 mm) thickness. Using 3 1/2-inch (9 cm) tall tree-shaped cookie cutter, cut out shapes, rerolling scraps as necessary. Arrange, 1 inch (2.5 cm) apart, on parchment paper–lined rimless baking sheets.
In small bowl, using food colouring, tint 1 egg yolk, 1 tsp at a time, brown; cover remaining egg yolk with damp towel. Using thin paintbrush, paint brown egg yolk onto cookies (to create boughs).
In separate small bowl, using food colouring, tint remaining egg yolk, 1 tsp at a time, green. Using thin paintbrush, paint green egg yolk onto cookies (to create pine needles and decorations).
Bake, 1 sheet at a time, in 375°F (190°C) oven until edges and bottoms are light golden, 10 to 12 minutes. Let cool on pans for 1 minute; transfer directly to racks to cool completely. (Make-ahead: Layer between waxed paper in airtight container; store for up to 1 week or freeze for up to 1 month.)
Tip from The Test Kitchen: For a glossy look, let the designs dry completely, then brush the entire cookies with tint-free egg whites. Bake as directed.
Makes about 30 cookies.
Nutritional facts per cookie: about
- Sodium 41 mg
- Sugars 7 g
- Protein 2 g
- Calories 111.0
- Total fat 5 g
- Potassium 15 mg
- Cholesterol 31 mg
- Saturated fat 3 g
- Total carbohydrate 14 g
%RDI
- Iron 4.0
- Folate 8.0
- Calcium 1.0
- Vitamin A 5.0
