Mailanderli

Photo: flickr user stu_spivack

Ingredients

1 1/4 cups Butter, no substitutes

1 cup Sugar

1 teaspoon Vanilla extract

2 Eggs

4 cups All-purpose flour

2 teaspoons Lemon peel, finely shredded

1 Egg yolk, beaten

1 tablespoon Water

Powdered sugar icing, optional

Preparation

BEAT butter in a mixing bowl with an electric mixer on medium speed for 30 seconds. Add sugar and vanilla; beat till combined. Beat in eggs. Beat in as much of the flour as you can with the mixer. Stir in remaining flour and lemon peel with a wooden spoon. If necessary, knead dough till smooth.

Divide in half. Cover and chill for 1 to 2 hours or till easy to handle.

ROLL each half of dough 1/4 inch thick on a lightly floured surface (or as directed below). Cut with desired 2- or 2 1/2-inch cookie cutters. Place on an ungreased cookie sheet. Brush with a mixture of beaten egg yolk and water. Bake in a 325 degree oven for 15 minutes or till edges begin to brown. Cool on wire racks. Frost with tinted Powdered Sugar Icing, if desired.

Makes about 40.

POWDERED SUGAR ICING: Combine 2 cups sifted powdered sugar and 2 tablespoons milk in a mixing bowl. Stir in additional milk, 1 teaspoon at a time, till it reaches desired consistency.

ALMOND RINGS: Roll Mailanderli dough 1/4 inch thick. Cut into rings (use a 2 1/2-inch round cutter, then cut with a 1-inch cutter to remove centers).

Brush with egg yolk and water mixture, and sprinkle with 3/4 cup sliced almonds. Bake as directed.

Makes about 48.

B1SHOP'S HATS: Roll Mailanderli douph slightly less than 1/4 inch thick.

Cut into 2-inch circles. Place about 1/8 teaspoon jam in the center of each; pinch three sides up, covering filling. Bake as directed. Drizzle with powdered Sugar Icing.

Makes about 100.

CHOCOLATE STARS: Roll Mailanderli dough 1/4 inch thick. Cut with star-shape cutters. Bake as directed. Dip each warm cookie into Chocolate Glaze; place a blanched almond in the center of each cookie. Or, dip cookies just halfway into Chocolate Glaze and omit almonds.

Makes about 60.

CHOCOLATE GLAZE: Heat 1 cup semisweet chocolate pieces, 4 tablespoons strong coffee or water, and 4 teaspoons butter in a small heavy saucepan over low heat, stirring till melted. Remove from heat; stir in I cup sifted powdered sugar till smooth.

Makes about 3/4 cup.

FILLED HEARTS: Roll Mailanderli dough 1/8 inch thick. Cut with heart-shape cutter. Brush cutouts with the beaten egg yolk and water mixture Bake in 325 degree oven for 12 minutes or till edges begin to brown.

FOR FILLING, melt 6 ounces semisweet chocolate and 2 tablespoons butter or margarine in a small heavy saucepan over low heat, stirring till smooth.

Beat together 2 eggs and 2 tablespoons coffee or water. Stir into chocolate along with 2 tablespoons sugar. Cook and stir over medium heat till nearly bubbly (do not boil). Chill till firm; beat with an electric mixer till fluffy. Spread about 2 teaspoons of filling on the bottom of half of the hearts. Top with remaining hearts, bottoms down. Drizzle cookies with melted candy coating, if desired.

Makes about 42.

NOTES : For the Bishop Hats I use pie filling instead of jam. They came out excellent. These varieties with the same dough is very decorative around the holidays!