Colorful Cookies

Submitted by Catwhispers

"When I saw this recipe in a Betty Crocker cookbook I was somewhat skeptical, but when I found a box of orange jello in my cupboard (I usually don't buy it and couldn't remember what I had it for) I decided to give it a try,. I was quite surprised and pleased with the results. I decided to top them and make orange coconut cookies, and not only did they taste nice and buttery (I used butter), the icing and coconut made them look quite pretty and very festive for the holidays. You can use any flavor jello you like (the reason I guess they are called "colorful") and any topping -- coconut, sprinkles, chiopped nuts, candied cherries, colored sugar -- the sky's the limit. I made them with orange jello, and dipped them right after icing into coconut."

 

• Ready In: 32mins
• Ingredients: 9
• Serves: 42

ingredients

• 1 (3 ounce) box fruit flavored gelatin, divided (jello)
• 1 cup butter or 1 cup margarine, softened
• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 2 1⁄4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1⁄4 teaspoon salt

• icing

• 1 tablespoon reserved gelatin powder
• 3 tablespoons very hot water
• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla

directions

1. Preheat oven to 350.
2. Remove 1 tablespoon of the gelatin powder and set aside to use for the icing later on.
3. Put the remainder of the gelatin powder in a large bowl with the butter and powdered sugar. Cream well.
4. Combine the flour with the salt and add to the butter mixture; mix well.
5. Shape the dough into 3/4 inch to 1 inch balls and place 2 inches apart on an ungreased cookie sheet.
6. Bake for 8 to 12 minutes, depending on the size of the cookies, until the edges just begin to slightly brown.
7. Remove from the oven, let sit on the cookie sheet for a minute or so, then remove cookies to a rack to cool completely.
8. Prepare the icing by dissolving the reserved 1 tablespoon of gelatin powder in the 3 tablespoons of hot water in a bowl. Let sit for 5 minutes, then add the vanilla and stir in the 2 cups powdered sugar until smooth.
9. Dip the tops of the cookies into the icing, then either dip in the topping of your choice or place back on the rack and sprinkle with your topping and let dry completely.

Reviews

[judysned]

I have been making these cookies for years. A friend had a son that was allergic to eggs. Since these have none, they were perfect for Christmas cookies. To get the best "red" for Christmas, I use Black Cherry Jello. For "green" I use "Green Apple" Jello as it tastes better than lime. Pineapple, Peach, and Apricot flavored Jello make awesome cookies as well.

 

[maryanne1]

I picked these cookies because they seemed easy for the kids to do and I needed color to my cookie platter. I actually had strawberry and lime jello and decided to make both for my christmas cookies and they are DELICIOUS. The consistency of the dough was like playdough which made it really fun for the kids to make.