Almond Angel Cookies

Prep Time: 1 Hour 45 Minutes Start to Finish: 4 Hours 4 dozen cookies

• 1 cup butter, softened
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 2 tablespoons milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• ½ teaspoon almond extract
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 2½ cups all-purpose flour
• 2 tablespoons yellow decorating sugar
• 2 tablespoons blue decorating sugar
• 96 small pretzel twists
• 2 tablespoons sliced almonds
• 1 tube (4.25 oz) yellow decorating icing
• 1 tube (4.25 oz) pink decorating icing

1 In large bowl, beat butter with electric mixer on medium-high speed until light and fluffy. Add granulated sugar; beat until creamy. Stir in milk, vanilla, almond extract and salt. Stir in flour until well mixed.

2 Measure ½ cup of dough into small resealable food-storage plastic bag; refrigerate. Divide remaining dough in half; roll each into 6-inch log. Put the decorating sugars in separate shallow dishes. Roll 1 log in yellow sugar; roll other log in blue sugar. Wrap logs separately in plastic wrap or waxed paper. Refrigerate until firm, at least 2 hours.

3 Heat oven to 350°F. For each cookie, place 2 pretzels with flat sides touching on ungreased large cookie sheets; place 3 inches apart. Unwrap logs; cut into 48 (¼-inch) slices. (If dough cracks, let stand at room temperature a few minutes.) Fold in opposite sides at top of each slice to make triangular-shaped body; place each slice on top of 2 pretzels so double loops of pretzels form angel wings at each side. Press lightly into pretzels. Using reserved dough from plastic bag, roll ½ teaspoon dough into ball; place at top for head. Press 2 sliced almonds into dough to make songbook.

4 Bake 11 to 14 minutes or until edges are firm and just begin to brown. Cool 2 to 3 minutes; remove from cookie sheets to cooling racks. Cool completely, about 15 minutes.

5 Pipe yellow icing onto cookies to make eyes and hair. Pipe pink icing to draw mouths. Let stand until set.

1 Cookie: Calories 110; Total Fat 5g (Saturated Fat 2.5g, Trans Fat 0g); Cholesterol 10mg; Sodium 85mg; Total Carbohydrate 16g (Dietary Fiber 0g); Protein 1g Exchanges: 1 Other Carbohydrate, 1 Fat Carbohydrate Choices: 1

Festive Touch Use this recipe for the project at a kids’ holiday party or even a gift exchange. You could bake the cookies up to 3 days in advance and store them in loosely covered containers to leave the decorating for the party. It’s fun to create together!