SPARKLING CANDY CORN COOKIES!

These bite-sized treats resemble candy corn and have a hint of orange flavor. This recipe comes from Land O Lakes Butter. If you're interested in some other holiday recipes go to http://www.landolakes.com/recipe/1542/sparkling-candy-corn-cookies.

45 min.prep time 3:25total time

15 dozen miniature cookies



Ingredients

1 cup Land O Lakes® Butter, softened

1 cup sugar

1 Land O Lakes® All-Natural Egg

2 tablespoons orange juice

2 teaspoons freshly grated orange zest

1/8 teaspoon salt

3 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

Orange paste or gel food color

Yellow paste or gel food color

1/2 cup sugar

Directions

Line bottom and sides of 9x5-inch loaf pan with waxed paper or plastic food wrap. Set aside.

Combine butter and 1 cup sugar in large bowl; beat at medium speed until creamy. Add egg, orange juice, orange zest and salt. Continue beating until well mixed. Reduce speed to low; add flour and baking soda. Beat until well mixed.

Divide dough into thirds. Press one-third of white dough evenly onto bottom of prepared pan. Place another one-third of dough back into same bowl. Add small amount of orange food color; mix until color is well blended. Press orange dough evenly over white dough in pan. Place remaining one-third of dough into another medium bowl. Add small amount of yellow food color; mix until color is well blended. Press yellow dough evenly over orange dough in pan. Cover with plastic food wrap; refrigerate until firm (at least 2 hours or overnight).

Place 1/2 cup sugar in large bowl; set aside.

Heat oven to 375°F. Invert loaf pan to remove dough. Peel off waxed paper. Place layered dough onto cutting surface. Cut loaf crosswise into 1/4-inch slices using sharp knife, trimming edges to make even, if necessary. Cut each slice into 6 wedges. Place 1-inch apart onto ungreased cookie sheets. Bake for 7 to 10 minutes or until edges are firm and bottoms are very lightly browned. Cool 1 minute; remove from cookie sheets. Immediately place warm cookies in bowl with sugar; roll in sugar to coat. Place cookies onto wire cooling rack. Cool completely.

Store in loosely covered container.

VARIATION:

   Chocolate Candy Corn: Prepare dough as directed except stir 1 (1-ounce) square melted semi-sweet baking chocolate into one-third of white dough. Tint one-third of dough orange and one-third yellow. Place chocolate dough into prepared pan; layer with orange and yellow dough. Cut and bake as directed.