SPICE CUTOUT COOKIES

Spice Cutout Cookies image

The L&T editors adored Lyn Chapman's crispy spice cookies so much, that they asked the Test Kitchen to create a light creamy frosting to go with them. "My husband loves ginger snaps and gingerbread," Lyn writes from Provo, Utah. "He was delighted when I made these cookies since they offered a ginger flavor but with a new twist." At only 1 gram of fat a piece, the whimsical treats make an ideal addition to a Christmas cookie platter or New Year's dessert buffet.

Provided by Taste of Home

Time 1h10m

Yield 6 dozen.

Number Of Ingredients 19

Ingredients

1/4 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup prune baby food
3/4 cup molasses
1 large egg, room temperature
3 tablespoons fat-free milk
3-3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1-1/2 teaspoons ground ginger
1-1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1-1/2 teaspoons aniseed, crushed
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cloves
1 teaspoon fennel seed, crushed
FROSTING:
1/4 cup butter, softened
5 cups confectioners' sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
4 to 5 tablespoons fat-free milk
Food coloring, optional

Steps:

In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the baby food, molasses, egg and milk; mix well. Combine the flour, ginger, cinnamon, aniseed, baking soda, cloves and fennel seed; gradually add to creamed mixture. Cover and refrigerate for 2 hours or until easy to handle., On a lightly floured surface, roll out dough to 3/16-in. thickness. Cut with a floured 2-in. cookie cutter. Place 1 in. apart on baking sheets coated with cooking spray. Bake at 375° for 8-10 minutes or until edges are firm. Remove to wire racks to cool., For frosting, in a large bowl, cream butter and confectioners' sugar. Beat in vanilla and enough milk to achieve spreading consistency. Add food coloring if desired. Decorate cookies as desired.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 87 calories, Fat 1g fat (1g saturated fat), Cholesterol 6mg cholesterol, Sodium 34mg sodium, Carbohydrate 18g carbohydrate (12g sugars, Fiber 0 fiber), Protein 1g protein.