Orange Blossom Spritz

Look for orange-color decorating sugar to sprinkle over the oven-ready dough.

Yield: 60

Ingredients

Cookies

• 3/4 cup butter
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 egg
• 2 teaspoons finely shredded orange peel
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• Colored sugar, decorative candies, or nuts (optional)

Orange Frosting (optional)

• 1 cup sifted confectioners' sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3 tablespoons orange juice + a little extra, if needed

Instructions

Cookies

1. Heat oven to 375 degrees F.
2. Beat butter in a large mixing bowl with an electric mixer on medium speed for 30 seconds.
3. Add sugar and baking powder and beat well.
4. Add egg, orange peel, and vanilla extract. Beat until well combined.
5. Beat in as much flour as you can. Stir in any remaining flour with a wooden spoon. Do not chill dough.
6. Pack dough into a cookie press. Force dough through press onto ungreased cookie sheets. If you like decorate with colored sugar, decorative candies, or nuts. Or, drizzle with Orange Frosting if you like.
7. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes or until edges of cookies are firm but not brown.
8. Remove cookies and cool on wire racks.

Orange Frosting

1. Stir together confectioners' sugar, vanilla extract and 3 tablespoons orange juice. Add enough additional orange juice to make of drizzling consistency.

Attribution

BHG More Christmas Cookies - 2001