PAINTED HOLIDAY DELIGHTS

Painted Holiday Delights image

These soft sandwich cookies are eye-catching, thanks to the holiday designs you paint of with food coloring. Orange juice in the dough and strawberry preserves in the filling add a light fruity flavor. I make them for special occasions.

Provided by Taste of Home

Time 55m

Yield about 2 dozen.

Number Of Ingredients 18

Ingredients

2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup confectioners' sugar
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup cold butter
1 egg
1/4 cup orange juice
FILLING:
1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened
3 tablespoons confectioners' sugar
3 tablespoons strawberry preserves
GLAZE:
1 cup confectioners' sugar
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 to 2 tablespoons milk
Assorted food coloring

Steps:

In a bowl, combine the first six ingredients. Cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Combine egg and orange juice; stir into crumb mixture just until moistened. Shape into a ball; cover and chill for 1-2 hours or until easy to handle. , On a floured surface, roll out dough to 1/8-in. thickness. Cut with a 2-in. round cookie cutter. Place 1 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets. Bake at 375° for 8-10 minutes or until lightly browned. Remove to wire racks to cool., Combine filling ingredients; spread on the bottom of half of the cookies. Top with remaining cookies. , For glaze, combine sugar, vanilla and enough milk to achieve desired consistency. Spread over tops of cookies; dry. Using a small new paintbrush and food coloring, paint holiday designs on cookie tops. Store in the refrigerator.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 330 calories, Fat 15g fat (9g saturated fat), Cholesterol 59mg cholesterol, Sodium 214mg sodium, Carbohydrate 46g carbohydrate (28g sugars, Fiber 1g fiber), Protein 4g protein.