Elf Cookies

A sweet frosting glaze, colorful candies and well-placed almond slices turn these sugar cookie diamonds into a big batch of Santa’s helpers.

• Ready In: 55 mins
• Yields: 28 cookies

Ingredients

• 0.5 (12 ounce) package  refrigerated sugar cookie dough, softened
• 1⁄3 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 1⁄2 cups confectioners' sugar, divided
• 3  tablespoons milk, divided
• 1⁄2 teaspoon  lemon extract, divided
• 6  drops  red food coloring, divided
• 140  milk chocolate  M&M's
• 56  sliced almonds
• 56  M&M's plain chocolate candy, miniature baking bits brown
• 28  M&M's plain chocolate candy, miniature baking bits red

Directions

1. In a small mixing bowl, beat cookie dough and flour until combined. Roll out on a lightly floured surface to 1/8-in. thickness. Cut with a floured 1-3/4-in. x 3-1/4-in. diamond cookie cutter. Place 2 inches apart on ungreased baking sheets. Bake at 350° for 7-9 minutes or until edges are golden brown. Remove to wire racks to cool.
2. For one batch of glaze, in a small bowl, combine 3/4 cup confectioners' sugar, 4-1/2 teaspoons milk and 1/4 teaspoon extract. Remove 1 tablespoon glaze to another bowl. Tint remaining glaze with 3 drops food coloring.
3. Working with one cookie at a time, spread red glaze over top half of cookie. Place one M&M at top for tassel and four M&M's across edge of glaze for hat brim. For ears, place two almonds above M&M's on each end. Dip baking bits in plain glaze; place brown bits on cookie for eyes and a red bit for nose. Repeat with 13 more cookies.
4. Make second batch of glaze with remaining confectioners' sugar, milk, extract and food coloring. Decorate remaining cookies as above.