HONEY BUTTER COOKIES

Steps:

• to prepare cookies:.
• beat butter on medium to high speed for 30 seconds -- add sugar, baking soda and 1/4 tsp salt.
• Beat until combined.
• beat in honey, egg and if desired, lemon extract until combined.
• add flour by beating in or stirring in -- until combined.
• Chill 1 hour or until it is easy enough to handle.
• preheat oven to 375*.
• lightly grease a cookie sheet, set aside.
• on a lightly floured surface, roll dough until it is 1/4" thick.
• using 2 1/2" cookie cutters, cut dough into desired shapes.
• place cutouts 1" apart on prepared cookie sheet.
• bake in a preheated 375* oven for 7-8 minutes or until cookies are golden and edges are set.
• transfer to a wire rack and cool.
• frost with honey butter frosting and if desired, top with honey bees.
• Yield about 30 cookies.
• to prepare HONEY BUTTER FROSTING:.
• in a medium saucepan, combine 3 tbls butter and 3 tbls honey.bring to boiling, remove from heat and stir in 2 cups powdered sugar and 2 tsps lemon juice.cool to room temperature.
• if necessary, add milk, one tsp at a time until frosting is of desired spreading consistency.
• to prepare HONEY BEES.
• prepare another honey butter frosting -- then divide in half.
• tint one half with yellow food coloring.mix well.
• combine remaining frosting with 1/4 cup melted semisweet chocolate chips.stir in additional milk, one 1 tsp at a time until both frostings are of piping consistency.
• pipe alternate bands of yellow and brown frosting on top of each cookie.
• pipe antennae with brown frosting.
• add slices almonds for wings.
• to STORE:.
• place cookies in layers seperated by waxed aper in an airtight container, cover and store at room temperature for up to 3 days or freeze unfrosted cookies up to 1 month.
• thaw cookies, then frost.