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Holiday: Christmas Checkerboards

Source of Recipe

Gram Ma


List of Ingredients

2 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tablespoon chocolate sprinkles (jimmies)
½ tsp. Grated orange rind
3 glacéed red cherries, minced
3 drops red food coloring
3 drops green food coloring
Decoration: green and/or red ready-to-pipe icing



Recipe

1. Beat butter and sugar in a large bowl with an electric mixer until blended. Beat in egg and vanilla. On low speed beat in flour until blended.

2. Divide dough in quarters. Knead cocoa powder and sprinkles into one portion, orange peel into another portion, cherries and red food color into third portion and green food color into remaining portion.

3. Divide each portion in half. With hands, roll each into an 8-inch log. Place an orange and red log side by side. Top with a green and chocolate log. Press logs firmly together to adhere and square sides. Repeat with remaining 4 logs. Wrap and refrigerate until firm, at least 6 hours.

4. Heat oven to 375'F. Cut logs crosswise into 1/4-inch-thick slices. Place 1 inch apart on ungreased cookie sheets.

5. Bake 7 to 9 minutes or until firm and lightly browned on bottom. Remove to wire racks to cool.

6. Pipe icing on cookies to resemble giftwrap ribbon and bow.