---------- Recipe via Meal-Master (tm) v8.05
 
      Title: Christmas Tree Cookies (1988 2nd Place)
 Categories: Cookies, Holiday
      Yield: 72 Cookies
 
  2 1/2 c  Flour
      1 c  Sugar
      1 c  Butter; softened
  1 1/2 ts Baking powder
    1/4 ts Salt
    1/2 ts Almond extract
      1    Egg
    1/4 c  Green sugar crystals
    1/4 c  Confetti or nonpareil candy
           - decorations (optional)
 
  Preparation time: 20 minutes
  Chilling time: 4 hours
  Baking time: 10 minutes
  
  "They're not a fancy or gourmet cookie, but a simple symbol of the
  Christmas season that is so close to my heart."

  Put flour, sugar, butter, baking powder, salt, almond extract, and
  egg into large bowl of an electric mixer. Mix together, using low
  speed. Dough will be crumbly. Then knead dough with hands until
  mixture holds together.
  
  Remove 1/3 cup of the dough; wrap and refrigerate. Divide remaining
  dough in 3rds. Using hands, roll each into a 6" log.
  
  Put sugar crystals on a sheet of wax paper. Roll each log in the
  sugar crystals to coat well; use the wax paper as a guide to press
  in crystals. Shape each log into a triangle, pressing gently on wax
  paper to give three sharp corners. Make sure to make 2 sides longer
  than the third side. Wrap each log well and refrigerate at least
  4 hours or until dough is firm enough to slice. To this point,
  cookies can be made up to a week in advance.
  
  Heat oven to 350°F. To bake, slice logs crosswise into 1/4" slices.
  Put slices about 1" apart on ungreased cookie sheets. For each
  cookie, shape about 1/2 ts of the reserved 1/3 cup dough into a
  tree trunk. Attach to bottom underside of each tree. Sprinkle each
  cookie lightly with candy decorations, if desired. Bake until
  lightly browned, about 10 minutes. Carefully remove to wire racks.
  Cool completely.
  
  Note:

  The logs can be divided and shaped into 3 sizes and sliced to form
  a 3-tiered tree. These second-place winning cookies are easily
  shaped into trees that are edged with glittery green sugar.

  Recipe by Pat Egan of Dolton, Illinois

  Recipe FROM: Chicago Tribune annual Food Guide Holiday Cookie
  Contest Dec 8, 1988
 
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