PENGUIN CUTOUTS

Penguin Cutouts image

Your children can help decorate these cute Christmas cookies. It's a fun way to get them involved in the kitchen. -Taste of Home Test Kitchen

Provided by Taste of Home

Time 1h40m

Yield 3 dozen.

Number Of Ingredients 14

Ingredients

1/2 cup butter-flavored shortening
1 cup sugar
1 large egg, room temperature
1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/2 cup sour cream
2-3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
FROSTING:
3-3/4 cups confectioners' sugar
1/3 cup water
4 teaspoons meringue powder
Orange, black, red and green paste food coloring
Edible ink pen, optional

Steps:

In a large bowl, cream shortening and sugar until light and fluffy, 5-7 minutes. Beat in egg and vanilla. Stir in sour cream. Combine flour, baking soda and salt; gradually add to creamed mixture and mix well. Divide dough into 3 balls; cover and refrigerate 3 hours or until easy to handle., Preheat oven to 375°. Remove 1 portion of dough from the refrigerator at a time. On a lightly floured surface, roll out dough to 1/8-in. thickness. Cut with a floured 4-in. penguin cookie cutter. Place 1 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets. , Bake 6-8 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. Remove to wire racks to cool., For frosting, in a small bowl, combine confectioners' sugar, water and meringue powder; beat on low speed just until combined. Beat on high 4 minutes or until soft peaks form. Cover frosting with damp paper towels between uses., Set aside half of frosting to remain white. Tint half of the remaining frosting black. Divide the rest into thirds; tint 1 orange, 1 red and 1 green., Working quickly with the black frosting, pipe outlines of the penguins' bodies; fill in with thinned black frosting. Let dry at room temperature for several hours or until firm. Fill in centers of penguins with thinned white frosting; let dry until firm. , Add eyes with the black and white frostings or edible-ink pen. Add orange beaks and feet and red and green scarves. Let stand until set. Add white and contrasting-colored polka dots on the scarves. Let stand until set. Store in an airtight container.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 139 calories, Fat 4g fat (1g saturated fat), Cholesterol 6mg cholesterol, Sodium 56mg sodium, Carbohydrate 26g carbohydrate (18g sugars, Fiber 0 fiber), Protein 1g protein.