2tablespoonshalf and halfflavored coffee creamer also works great
1teaspoonreal vanilla extractlarge
3eggs
4cupsflourall purpose
3teaspoonsbaking powder
1teaspoonsaltskip if you use salted butter
Decorations
1cuppowdered sugaralso called confectioners sugar or icing sugar
½teaspoonreal vanilla extract
green food coloringwe used neon green
1cupcandy meltsred
Instructions
Cookies
In a large mixing bowl cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the half and half, vanilla, and the eggs until well combined.
Next add in the flour, baking powder and salt. Add green food coloring and mix. Continue to add food coloring in small amounts until desired shade is reached.
Mix until a thick dough forms, cover or wrap in plastic wrap and chill for 1 hour.
Turn dough out onto a floured surface and roll out to ¼" thickness. This is easiest if you do half the dough at a time. Use a cookie cutter to cut out tree shapes.
Place cut out cookies about 1" apart on parchment or silicone lined baking sheets and, if desired, shape the top of the tree into a curl.
Bake at 350° F for 7-9 minutes until cookies are just set and starting to turn light brown around the edges. Cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to finish cooling.
Decoration
For the snow: Mix 1 cup of powdered sugar with ½ teaspoon of vanilla extract and stir to make a thick glaze. If it is not wet enough add milk or water ¼ teaspoon at a time until you have a thick glaze. Put a little glaze on the top of the tree and the tips and allow to set.
For the hearts: In a microwave safe bowl melt the red candy melts in 15 - 20 second increments, stirring in-between, until smooth and melted. Carefully transfer the red chocolate to a sandwich bag and snip off a tiny corner. Pipe hearts into the center of the cookies and allow to set.
Notes
Calories are automatically generated. For best results calculate based on your exact ingredients.