Edible Ornaments

1 roll (18 oz) refrigerated sugar cookie dough

3/4 cup all purpose flour

1 bag (14 oz) assorted flavor hard candies,
unwrapped (such as Jolly Ranchers or Life Savors)

Cookie Cutters (2 sizes of each design)

For Royal Icing:

Red and Green Food Colors

1 box confectioner's sugar

3 tbsp powdered egg whites

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Line 3 cookie sheets with nonstick foil.

Knead dough and flour together until smooth. Roll out dough to scant 1/4

inch thickness. Cut out desired shapes; transfer to foil lined cookie sheets.

Using small cutters, cut out centers of cookies. Repeat with remaining dough.

Use a straw to make a small hole in the top of each cookie.

Bake at 350 degrees for 8-10 minutes or until cookies are golden

and almost cooked through. Remove sheets from oven. Meanwhile,

place like coolored candies in plastic bags. Using a small saucepan or hammer,

crush candies. Fill cutouts with candy pieces. Return cookies to the oven for

2 or 3 minutes longer or until candies are melted and smooth.

Do not overbake or candies will lose thier color. Transfer sheets to wire racks.

Cool completely. Peel cookies from foil.

Royal Icing:

Beat together 1 box confectioner's sugar, 3 tbsp powdered egg whites

and 6-7 tbsp water for 7 minutes, until fluffy and consistency of sour cream.

Divide into thirds. Tint one third green, one third red and leave the last plain.

Spoon each color icing into a pastry bag fitted with a small, plain tip.

Pipe decorative patterns on cookies using different colors. Let icing dry

about 2 hours or until firm. Tie a ribbon through hole.

Hang as an ornament or near a window.