Coastal Cutout Cookies

Ingredients

• 0.3 teaspoon almond extract 
• 1 cup butter softened
• 4 ounces cream cheese 
• 1  egg yolk 
• 2.5 cups flour all-purpose
• 15 servings decorating icing 
• 0.3 teaspoon salt 
• 1 cup sugar 
• 0.5 teaspoon vanilla extract 

Equipment

• bowl
• baking sheet
• baking paper
• oven
• hand mixer
• cookie cutter
• wax paper

Directions

1. Beat first 3 ingredients at medium speed with an electric mixer 2 minutes or until light and fluffy.
2. Add egg yolk, and beat until smooth. Stir in extracts.
3. Combine flour and salt; gradually add to butter mixture, beating just until blended. Shape dough into 2 balls; wrap in wax paper, and chill 1 hour or up to 1 week.
4. Roll dough out on a lightly floured surface to 1/4-inch thickness. (If dough is too firm to roll, let stand 5 to 10 minutes.)
5. Cut into shapes using 4 1/2-inch cookie cutters.
6. Place cookies on parchment paper-lined baking sheets; bake, in batches, at 350 for 10 to 12 minutes or until edges are lightly browned.
7. Let cool on pans 1 minute.
8. Transfer cookies to wire racks to cool completely.
9. Dip tops of cookies in Decorating Icing, allowing excess to drip back into bowl.
10. Cut dough into circles using a 3-inch round cookie cutter.
11. Cut out centers of circles using a 1-inch round cookie cutter.
12. Bake as directed; let cool completely.
13. Spread about 1 teaspoon raspberry preserves, strawberry jam, or buttercream frosting between 2 cookies. Dip in Decorating Icing, allowing excess to drip back into bowl.
14. Add pieces of red licorice to resemble stripes on a life preserver ring. Makes 32 sandwich cookies.
15. Coconut Snowballs: Substitute 1/2 teaspoon coconut extract for vanilla and almond extracts. Stir in 1/2 cup finely chopped toasted macadamia nuts and 1 tablespoon lemon zest. Chill dough 30 minutes. Shape into 1-inch balls.
16. Place 1 inch apart on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet, and bake, in batches, at 350 for 15 minutes or until lightly browned on bottoms.
17. Transfer to wire racks; let cool 2 minutes.
18. Place 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar in a bowl, and toss cookies to coat.
19. Let cookies cool completely on wire racks. Toss in powdered sugar again, coating well. Makes 4 dozen.