½ cup (1 stick) butter, softened
1¾ cups sifted confectioners’ sugar, divided
2 tablespoons vanilla, divided
1½ cups all-purpose flour
⅛ teaspoon salt
Cherries, dates, nuts, or chocolate pieces for filling
2 tablespoons cream
Few drops of food coloring
Colored sugar, jimmies, coconut (optional)
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
In a large bowl combine the butter, ¾ cup of the confectioners’ sugar, and 1 tablespoon of the vanilla, mixing well. Blend in the flour and salt. If the dough is dry, add 1 to 2 tablespoons cream. Wrap 1 tablespoon of dough around a cherry, date, nuts, or chocolate pieces. Place the dough balls 1 inch apart on an ungreased baking sheet. Bake 10 to 12 minutes, or until set but not brown. Cool.
In a small bowl combine the remaining 1 cup confectioners’ sugar, the cream, the remaining 1 tablespoon vanilla, and the food coloring. Dip the tops of the cookies in the icing. Set on wire racks for the icing to set. Top the cookies with colored sugar, jimmies, or coconut, if desired.
Makes 2 dozen cookies
Dolores, Fiori, Queen of Tea-light
Tea-lightful Red Hatters,
Hammonton, New Jersey