Pen Pal Letter Cookies

---------- Recipe via Meal-Master (tm) v8.05

Title: Pen Pal Letter Cookies
Categories: Cookies, Holiday
Yield: 9 servings

------cookie dough------
2 c Margarine; softened
1 c Granulated sugar
1 tb Water
1 tb Almond extract
5 c Unbleached flour
1 sm Envelope; (3 1/2 x 6 1/2")
------edible decorator
-paint------
1 Egg yolk
1/2 ts Water
Assorted colors of paste
-food coloring
Small; soft paintbrush
Powdered sugar icing

Recipe by: Great Little Sweet Treats
Preparation Time: 0:15
Preheat oven at 350. In a mixing bowl, combine margarine and sugar. Add
1 tablespoon water and almond extract; mix well. Stir in flour until well
combined. Cover and chill for 2 to 3 hours. On a floured surface, roll
dough to a 1/4" thickness. Using envelope as a pattern, cut shapes in
dough with a sharp knife. Reroll dough scraps. Cut out 1" squares of
dough to resemble stamps. Transfer letters and stamps to unprepared
baking sheet with a spatula. Using a paintbrush, paint, addresses,
postmarks, and stamps with Edible Decorator Paint. Allow each color of
paint to dry thoroughly before painting with additional colors. Bake
cookies for 25 to 30 minutes, removing stamps if they start to brown.
Cool slightly and remove from baking sheet. Cook completely. Prepare
powdered sugar icing and attach stamps to letters. To make Edible
Decorator Paint, mix egg yolk with 1/2 teaspoon water. Divide mixture
into several small cups. Add paste food coloring as desired. If needed,
add additional water, 1 drop at a time, to make paint the consistency of
ink. Use thin coats of the paint. Allow each color to dry before
proceeding with next color. In recipes using opaque or pastel paint, add
white, paste or liquid, food coloring. This improves opaqueness and
removes much of the yellow color of the egg yolk. Food painted with paint
should be returned to the oven for a few minutes to set the paint and cook
the egg yolk.

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