12 Days of Christmas Recipe Countdown: Christmas Sugar Cookies

INGREDIENTS:

1 stick Unsalted butter

¾ cup Splenda Sugar (or sweetener of your choice—may change calorie count)

1 each Egg

2 teaspoons Pure vanilla extract

1 teaspoon Baking powder

2 Tablespoons Skim Milk

3 cups All purpose, unbleached, flour

1 pinch Salt

PREPARATION:

• Preheat oven to 400 F.


• In mixing bowl, mix butter, Splenda, egg, vanilla, milk, baking powder and salt. 


• When evenly mixed, add flour.


• Sprinkle about ½ cup of flour on the counter. (Be sure to also flour rolling pin, and the top of the dough.) 


• Using only half of the dough, roll out into nice medium thickness sheet.   (Make sure surface is well floured to prevent sticking).


• Cut dough with your favorite cookie cutters, then place on baking sheet and bake for about 5-10 minutes depending on oven, and golden color of cookie.

Yield: 45 cookies

Serving Size: 1 cookie

Calories: 45

Fat: 1.5 grams

H3 Recipe: Severed Finger Sugar Cookies

These are perfect for Halloween parties! They’re finger licking good!

INGREDIENTS:

1/2 cup Apple butter

1/2 cup Butter, unsalted

1 cup Powdered sugar                   

1 each Egg   

1 teaspoon Vanilla extract

1 cup Whole wheat flour

1 3/4 cup All purpose flour

1 teaspoon Baking powder

1/4 teaspoon Salt

1/4 cup Almonds, sliced

1/4 cup Strawberry jam

PREPARATION:

• In a large bowl, beat the butter and apple butter until creamy. Mix in the sugar, egg and vanilla.


• In a separate bowl, mix the dry ingredients: all purpose flour, whole wheat flour, baking powder, and salt.


• Add the dry mixture to the sugar mixture.


• Preheat oven to 325° F 


• Using your hands roll a tablespoon of dough into a finger shape. Place the "fingers" on a greased cookie tray.  Stick a sliced almond on the end of each finger for the fingernails. Use a table knife to make three indents for the knuckles.


• Bake until lightly golden, about 17 to 20 minutes.  Transfer to a rack to cool.


• In a small sauce pan, cook the strawberry jam over low heat until it reaches a thin consistency. Remove from the heat and dip the "severed" end of each cookie into the sauce.

Yield: 40 servings,

Serving Size: 1 tablespoon uncooked cookie dough

Nutritional info: 60 calories

Fat:  3 grams