LIME CHRISTMAS TEA COOKIES

Lime Christmas Tea Cookies image

Brighten your holiday cookie tray with these tangy frosted fir trees that are flecked with pistachios and flavored with lime juice and vanilla. They're a deliciously different cutout cookie. -Mary Ann Taday, East Lyme, Connecticut

Provided by Taste of Home

Time 1h10m

Yield about 4 dozen.

Number Of Ingredients 13

Ingredients

1 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup sugar
2 teaspoons grated lime zest
1/4 cup lime juice
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2-3/4 cups all-purpose flour
10 to 12 drops green food coloring
3/4 cup finely chopped pistachios
ICING:
3-3/4 to 4 cups confectioners' sugar
5 to 6 tablespoons warm water
3 tablespoons meringue powder
Green food coloring, optional

Steps:

In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy, 5-7 minutes. Beat in the lime zest, lime juice and vanilla. Gradually add flour and mix well. Beat in food coloring. Stir in pistachios. Cover and refrigerate for 4 hours or until easy to handle., On a lightly floured surface, roll out dough to 1/4-in. thickness. Cut with a floured 2-1/2-in. tree-shaped cookie cutter. Place 1 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets. Bake at 350° for 8-10 minutes or until set. Cool for 5 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely., In a large bowl, combine confectioners' sugar, 5 tablespoons water and the meringue powder; beat on low speed just until blended. Beat on high 4-5 minutes or until stiff peaks form. Thin with enough remaining water to achieve desired consistency. Divide in half; if desired, tint 1 portion green. Keep unused icing covered at all times with a damp cloth. If necessary, beat again on high speed to restore texture. Frost and decorate cookies to resemble snow-covered trees or as desired. Let stand at room temperature several hours or until frosting is dry and firm. Store in an airtight container.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 191 calories, Fat 11g fat (6g saturated fat), Cholesterol 24mg cholesterol, Sodium 104mg sodium, Carbohydrate 22g carbohydrate (9g sugars, Fiber 1g fiber), Protein 3g protein.