Holiday Surprise Sugar Cookies

Easy cookie mix jump-starts holiday cookie baking. Surprise family and friends with these sweet treasures.

Prep: 1 hr 15 min | Servings: 48

Ingredients

Heat oven to 375 degrees F.
In medium bowl, stir cookie mix, butter, egg and flour until dough forms.
Divide dough into thirds. Tint one-third red and one-third green with food colors; leave one-third plain. Keep dough covered tightly until ready to use.
On floured surface, roll each third of dough until 1/8 inch thick. For round cookies, cut with 1 1/2 inch cookie cutter; for square cookies, cut into 1 1/2 inch squares using sharp knife. (Dip cutter or knife in flour for easier cutting.)
On ungreased cookie sheet, place half the cookies 1 inch apart. Place 1 candy piece on center of each cookie; top with another cookie. Gently press edges together to seal, using tines of fork. To decorate before baking, sprinkle cookies with colored sprinkles, sugars or decors as desired.
Bake for 6 to 8 minutes or until edges are light brown.
Cool for 1 minute; remove from cookie sheet to wire rack.
Cool completely, about 30 minutes.
Decorate with gels as desired.

Expert Tip: Instead of the crème de menthe candies, use one of the following in each cookie:

Piece of a (1.55 ounce) milk chocolate candy bar, separated into small rectangles, each cut into thirds (larger baking or candy bars will be too thick)
Small round chocolate-covered creamy mint
1/4 teaspoon toffee bits

Recipe and photo used with permission from: Betty Crocker Kitchens