Family Tree Cookies

Yields:	2 cookies
Rate this Recipe

	Preparation	40 minutes
	Cooking	9 minutes
	Ready In	1 hours

Be the first to add a photo of this recipe!

Ingredients

1 1/2	cups	brown sugar	firmlypacked
2/3	cup	vegetable shortening
1	tablespoon	water
1	teaspoon	vanilla extract
2	large	eggs
1 1/2	cups	flour, all-purpose
1/3	cup	cocoa powder
1/4	teaspoon	baking soda
1/2	teaspoon	salt
2	cups	chocolate chips	miniature, semisweet
			icing
2	cups	powdered sugar
3	tablespoons	water
			decoration
1	x	gum drops	spearmint leafshaped
1	x	cookies	sugar, leaves, cut from scraps of sugar shield cookies

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F . Line cookie sheet with foil.

2. Combine brown sugar, shortening, water and vanilla in large bowl.

Beat at medium speed of electric mixer until well blended.

Beat eggs into creamed mixture.

3. Combine flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt. Mix into creamed mixture at low speed just until blended.

Stir in chocolate chips.

4. Refrigerate dough at least one hour. Keep refrigerated until ready to use.

Roll dough into ropes 1/2 inch (1 cm) in diameter.

Join 2 or 3 ropes to form tree trunk at bottom of cookie sheet.

Shape remaining dough on foil-lined baking sheets into tree branches.

5. Bake at 375F (180C) for 9 to 11 minutes, or until cookie is set.

DO NOT OVERBAKE.

Cool 2 minutes on baking sheet.

Remove cookie with foil from baking sheet and cool completely.

Peel foil from back of cookie.

6. For icing, combine icing sugar and 3 tablespoons (45 mL)

Mix to blend well.

Add additional water, a little at a time, if icing is too stiff.

Add additional icing sugar if icing is too thin.

Place icing in pastry bag fitted with small round writing tip.

Alternately, place in small resealable plastic bag.

Snip very small hole off one corner of bag.

Pipe names onto branches of trees.

7. If using cookie leaves tint remaining icing with green food colouring.

Ice sugar cookie leaves.

Attach to branches with icing.

Attach spearmint leaves to branches with icing (optional).

Rate this Recipe

Not a member? You can still rate this recipe!

Review this Recipe

Note: You must be a member to submit a review. Please Sign in or Sign Up.

Recipe Bite

Sweet Taste of Success?

by Mark R. Vogel

The Sweet Taste of Success? Last night I ate at one of those all-you-can-eat Chinese buffets. I love those places. They usually...

Member Review

Favourite Banana Bread

This is my favorite banana bread recipe