TWO-TONE CHRISTMAS COOKIES

Two-Tone Christmas Cookies image

I dreamed up this recipe using two of my favorite flavors, pistachio and raspberry. These pink and green cookies are tasty and eye-catching, too. They're perfect for formal or informal gatherings, and everybody likes them.

Provided by Taste of Home

Time 35m

Yield 6-1/2 dozen.

Number Of Ingredients 16

Ingredients

1 cup butter, softened
1-1/2 cups sugar
2 large egg yolks, room temperature
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 teaspoon almond extract
3-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
9 drops green food coloring
1 tablespoon 2% milk
1/3 cup finely chopped pistachios
9 drops red food coloring
3 tablespoons seedless raspberry preserves
2 cups semisweet chocolate chips, melted
Additional chopped pistachios, optional

Steps:

In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in egg yolks and extracts. Combine the flour, salt, baking powder and baking soda; gradually add to creamed mixture and mix well. Divide dough in half. Stir green food coloring, milk and nuts into one portion; mix well. Add red food coloring and jam to the other half., Between two pieces of waxed paper, shape each portion into an 8-in. x 6-in. rectangle. Cut in half lengthwise. Place one green rectangle on a piece of plastic wrap. Top with one pink rectangle; press together lightly. Repeat, forming a second stack. Wrap each in plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight., Remove one stack from the refrigerator at a time. Unwrap dough; cut in half lengthwise. Return one portion to the refrigerator. Cut remaining portion into 1/8-in. slices. Place 1 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets. Bake at 375° for 7-9 minutes or until set. Remove to wire racks to cool. Repeat with the remaining dough., Drizzle cooled cookies with melted chocolate. Sprinkle with additional pistachios if desired.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 84 calories, Fat 4g fat (2g saturated fat), Cholesterol 12mg cholesterol, Sodium 70mg sodium, Carbohydrate 12g carbohydrate (7g sugars, Fiber 0 fiber), Protein 1g protein.