Frosty Christmas Tree Cookies

These scrumptious treats are a soft perfectly spiced molasses cookie with sugar frosting.  These have been on my Christmas cookie tray every year for the past 30 years!! Needless to say, these are one of my personal favorites. 

They are just the thing to leave for old Santa when he makes

his rounds to your house. 

Enjoy!

Frosty Christmas Tree Cookies

Bake at 350 for 8 minutes

Makes 3 dozen cookies

Ingredients:

3 1/2 cups flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons unsweetened cocoa powder

2 teaspoons ground ginger

3 teaspoons ground cinnamon

2 teaspoons ground cloves

1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened

1 cup sugar

1 egg

1/2 cup molasses

Sugar Icing (recipe follows)

1. Sift flour, baking soda, salt, cocoa, ginger, cinnamon, cloves onto waxed paper.
2. Beat butter, sugar, egg and molasses in a large bowl with electric mixer until fluffy-light.  Stir in flour mixture until well blended.  Wrap the dough in plastic wrap or foil; refrigerate several hours or overnight.
3. Roll out dough, 1/3 at a time, on a lightly floured surface to 1/4 inch thickness.  Cut out with large Christmas tree cutter.  Brush off excess flour; place cookies on a lightly greased cookie sheet.  Repeat with remaining dough.  Gather up scraps for second rolling.
4. Bake in moderate oven (350) for 8 minutes, or until edges are browned.  Let cookies cool a few minutes on cookie sheets.  Remove to wire racks with spatula; cool completely.  Dip small clean brush into Sugar Icing and "paint" cookies.  Sprinkle with colored sugars.

Sugar Icing:  Combine 1 package (1 pound) 10X (confectioners) sugar, 1 teaspoon vanilla and 1/3 cup water in medium size bowl; stir until smooth.  Add more water, a teaspoon at a time, until icing is spoonable and flows easily from a spoon.

Makes 2 cups