ICED CHRISTMAS-COOKIE LETTERS

Iced Christmas-Cookie Letters image

Provided by Diana Yen

Yield Makes about 3-4 dozen cookies

Number Of Ingredients 5

All-purpose flour (for surface)
1 batch gingerbread cookie dough, chilled
8 ounces white chocolate, melted
White sanding sugar (for sprinkling)
2-3" letters printed on paper in your favorite bold font (or alphabet cookie cutters); toothpicks; an X-acto knife or small paring knife

Steps:

Position racks in upper and lower thirds of oven; preheat to 350°F. Line 2 rimmed baking sheets with parchment paper. Cut out printed letters with scissors to use as stencils.
Generously flour a rolling pin and work surface. Working with 1 disc at a time, roll dough to 1/4" thick. Place stencils over dough. Using X-acto knife, cut out letters (or use alphabet cookie cutters). If dough becomes too soft, chill until firm. Place cookies 1/2" apart on prepared baking sheets. Chill 15 minutes.
Bake cookies until edges are light golden brown, 10-12 minutes. Transfer to wire racks and let cool.
Meanwhile, heat chocolate in a medium heatproof bowl set over a medium saucepan of barely simmering water (do not let water touch bowl), stirring, until chocolate is melted (you can also microwave chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl in short bursts until melted, stirring in between bursts). Dip tops of each letter in chocolate. Using a toothpick, drag down thin lines of chocolate to form icicle shapes. Sprinkle with sanding sugar and transfer to parchment-lined rimmed baking sheets. Let stand until chocolate is dry, about 1 hour.