CHOCOLATE SHORTBREAD TREES

Chocolate Shortbread Trees image

You can use this rollout chocolate cookie dough to create all kinds of shapes and sizes, but I like to make trees because they are so easy to decorate. -Deirdre Cox, Kansas City, Missouri

Provided by Taste of Home

Time 30m

Yield about 3 dozen.

Number Of Ingredients 6

Ingredients

1 cup butter, softened
1 cup confectioners' sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1-2/3 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 cup baking cocoa
Assorted nonpareils, optional

Steps:

In a large bowl, beat butter and confectioners' sugar until blended. Beat in vanilla. In another bowl, whisk flour and cocoa; gradually beat into creamed mixture., Divide dough in half. Shape each into a disk; wrap in plastic. Refrigerate 1 hour or until firm enough to roll., Preheat oven to 350°. On a lightly floured surface, roll each portion of dough to 1/4-in. thickness. Cut with a floured 3-1/4-in. tree-shaped cookie cutter. Place 1 in. apart on greased baking sheets. If desired, sprinkle with nonpareils., Bake 8-10 minutes or until set. Cool on pans 5 minutes. Remove from pans to wire racks to cool.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 81 calories, Fat 5g fat (3g saturated fat), Cholesterol 14mg cholesterol, Sodium 41mg sodium, Carbohydrate 8g carbohydrate (3g sugars, Fiber 0 fiber), Protein 1g protein.