Orange Blossom Spritz

Source: BHG More Christmas Cookies - 2001

Look for orange-color decorating sugar to sprinkle over the oven-ready dough.

3/4 cup butter
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 egg
2 teaspoons finely shredded orange peel
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
Colored sugar, decorative candies, or nuts (optional)
Orange Frosting (optional); recipe below

Beat butter in a large mixing bowl with an electric mixer on medium speed for 30 seconds. Add sugar and baking powder and beat well. Ad egg, orange peel, and vanilla extract. Beat till well combined. Beat in as much flour as you can. Stir in any remaining flour with a wooden spoon. Do not chill dough.

Pack dough into a cookie press. Force dough through press onto ungreased cookie sheets. If you like decorate with colored sugar, decorative candies, or nuts. Or, drizzle with Orange Frosting if you like.

Bake in a 375 degree F oven for 8 to 10 minutes or till edges of cookies are firm but not brown. Remove cookies and cool on wire racks.

Makes 60.

Orange Frosting:
Stir together 1 cup sifted confectioners' sugar, 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract and 3 tablespoons orange juice. Add enough additional orange juice to make of drizzling consistency.