Sparkling Snowflake Cookies

Make exquisite ornaments and delectable gifts yet are very simple for kids and grown-ups to bake and decorate together.

Yield: about 2 1/2 dozen

Ingredients

1 (18.25 ounce) box white cake mix*
1/2 pound (2 sticks) butter, softened
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups Quaker Oats (Quick or Old Fashioned, uncooked)
Assorted colored sugars, candy sprinkles, small candies or decorator icings

Instructions

Heat oven to 350 degrees F.
In large bowl, combine half the dry cake mix with butter, egg and vanilla extract; mix thoroughly with large spoon.
Stir in remaining cake mix and oats; mix well.
Divide dough in half. On well-floured surface, using a well-floured rolling pin, roll each half to no more than 1/4-inch thickness. Cut dough with 3 inch snowflake or other large holiday cookie cutter. Place about 1 inch apart on ungreased cookie sheets. If cookies will be used as tree ornaments, poke a hole at the top of each cookie with drinking straw before baking. (Repeat immediately after baking if hole closes.)
Bake for 6 to 8 minutes or just until set (centers may still be soft).
Carefully remove to wire rack; cool completely.
If desired, decorate cookies.

Notes

* 18.25 ounce boxes of cake mix have been replaced by 16.5 ounce and 15.25 ounce boxes. To compensate for the volume loss in a 16 ounce box, whisk 6 tablespoons all-purpose flour into the dry cake mix before proceeding with the recipe. To compensate for the volume loss in a 15.25 ounce box, add 1/2 cup + 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour and 1/4 teaspoon baking powder.

Decorating Ideas

Sprinkle with colored sugars, candy sprinkles or small candies before baking.
Sprinkle baked cookies with powdered sugar as they cool.
Frost cooled cookies with homemade or ready-to-spread frosting. Sprinkle with glitter sugar or colored sugar.
Squeeze melted dark or white chocolate, decorator frosting or decorator gel in tubes onto cooled cookies.
Dragees (small silver and gold ball-shaped decorations) are inedible and should only be placed on cookies that will be used for decorations and not eaten.

Attribution

Recipe and photo used with permission from: Quaker Oats