Decorate-Before-You-Bake Cookies

Ingredients

• 0.8 cup butter softened
• 0.5 cup sugar 
• 1  eggs 
• 1.8 cups flour all-purpose
• 0.5 teaspoon baking soda 
• 0.3 teaspoon cream of tartar 
• 0.3 teaspoon salt 
• 2 tablespoons sugar 
• 0.5 cup butter softened
• 3 teaspoons milk 
• 0.5 cup flour all-purpose
• 4 drops food coloring red
• 4 drops drop natural food coloring green

Equipment

• bowl
• baking sheet
• oven
• wire rack
• plastic wrap
• hand mixer

Directions

1. In large bowl, beat 3/4 cup butter and 1/2 cup sugar with electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy.
2. Add egg; beat well. Stir in 1 3/4 cups flour, the baking soda, cream of tartar and salt. Knead dough into smooth ball. Wrap in plastic wrap; refrigerate until firm, about 1 hour.
3. Meanwhile, in small bowl, mix 1/2 cup butter, the milk and 1/2 cup flour with fork until well mixed. Divide mixture in half. Stir red food color into 1 half and green food color into other half. Spoon each mixture into decorating bag fitted with small writing tip; set aside.
4. Heat oven to 375°F. Shape 1 half of the cookie dough into 3/4-inch balls.
5. Place balls 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheets. In small bowl, measure 2 tablespoons sugar. Dip bottom of glass into sugar, and use to flatten each ball into 1 1/2-inch round. Pipe colored mixture from decorating bags on each cookie in various holiday designs. Repeat with remaining half of dough.
6. Bake 7 to 9 minutes or until set. Immediately remove to cooling rack.