Handling a Tall Order Cookies

Step 1

In advance: Prepare and decorate Santa and gift cookies. Roll out dough; for each Santa cookie, cut 1 tree using cutter, 1 large square and 3 medium squares using Cut-Outs.

Step 2

Trim off extended branch areas from tree to create a triangular shape. Trim large square to 1 x 2 in. and medium squares to 1 1/2 x 1 in., 1 1/2 x 3/4 in. and 1 x 1 in.

Step 3

Bake and cool all cookies.

Step 4

Ice Santa and gifts smooth. Pipe tip 3 stripes or dots on medium gifts, tip 4 stripes on large gift. Pipe tip 4 dot bow on 1 in. gift.

Step 5

Place Santa on waxed paper. Pipe in tip 12 face (pat smooth with finger dipped in cornstarch). Pipe tip 5 arms; add tip 12 bead boots.

Step 6

Pipe tip 4 zigzag beard and fur trim on coat hem. Add tip 2 dot nose, tip 1 string eyes and dot mouth, tip 3 pull-out moustache.

Step 7

With royal icing, attach large gift at top of triangle. Pipe tip 4 mittens holding gift.

Step 8

Build up hat under gift with tip 4 and add tip 3 zigzag fur trim on hat and sleeves. Let dry overnight.

Step 9

Remove Santa from waxed paper and attach stick to back with royal icing, leaving 4 in. extended at bottom. Attach remaining gifts to stick with royal icing. Let dry.

*Note: Combine Red-Red and Christmas Red for red shown.