ROLY-POLY SANTAS

Roly-Poly Santas image

I tuck one of these fanciful Santas into every gift cookie tray I make. They're a guaranteed hit with kids-young and old. And I like that they're not too difficult to assemble. -Andrew Syer, Oak Ridge, Missouri

Provided by Taste of Home

Time 1h15m

Yield About 1 dozen.

Number Of Ingredients 12

Ingredients

1 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup sugar
1 tablespoon whole milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2-1/4 cups all-purpose flour
Red paste food coloring
Miniature semisweet chocolate chips or sprinkles
1/2 cup shortening
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
2-1/3 cups confectioners' sugar, divided
3 tablespoons whole milk, divided
White nonpareils, sugar pearls and Red Hot candies

Steps:

Preheat oven to 325°. In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy, 5-7 minutes. Add milk and vanilla; mix well. Add flour and mix well. Remove 1-2/3 cups dough; tint red. Shape white dough into 12 balls, 3/4 in. each, 48 balls, 1/2 in. each. and 12 balls, 1/4 in. each. Shape red dough into 12 balls, 1-1/4 in. each, and 60 balls, 1/2 in. each., Place the 1-1/4 in. red balls on two ungreased baking sheets for the body of 12 Santas. Attach 3/4-in. white balls for heads. Attach four 1/2-in. red balls to each Santa for arms and legs. Attach 1/2 in. white balls to ends of arms and legs for hands and feet; lightly press together. , Shape remaining 1/2-in. red balls into hats. Attach 1/4-in. white balls to tips of hats. Place inverted chocolate chips or sprinkles for eyes., Bake until set, 12-15 minutes. Cool for 10 minutes; carefully remove from pans to wire racks (cookies will be fragile)., For icing, combine shortening and vanilla in a small bowl; mix well. Gradually add 1-1/3 cups confectioners' sugar; add 1 tablespoon milk. Gradually add remaining sugar and milk., Pipe a band of icing on hat, cuffs at hands and feet, and down the front and at bottom of jacket. Pipe swirls of icing on tip of hat and for beard. Sprinkle nonpareils and sugar pearls over icing on hat and beard. Place a Red Hot candy for nose.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 422 calories, Fat 24g fat (12g saturated fat), Cholesterol 41mg cholesterol, Sodium 124mg sodium, Carbohydrate 50g carbohydrate (32g sugars, Fiber 1g fiber), Protein 3g protein.