Merry Middles

MERRY  MIDDLES                    

½ cup butter                                           2 tsp vanilla
1/4 cup butter flavored shortening        ½ tsp baking powder
1 egg                                                      ½ tsp salt
2 egg yolks                                            2 ½ cups flour
1 cup sugar

Beat butter and 1/4 cup shortening with a mixer on medium speed for 30 seconds.  Add the egg, egg yolks, sugar, vanilla, baking powder and salt.  Beat till combined.  Beat in flour.

For the middles

Transfer 3/4 cup dough to a small mixing bowl.  Add the flowing and beat well:

3/4 cup of yellow dough                      2 tsp almond extract
1/3 cup sifted powder sugar                1 Tbl melted butter
2 Tbl unsweetened cocoa powder                   

Roll the chocolate dough into 1 inch balls.  For each cookie, mold about 1 Tbl. of the yellow dough around each cocoa ball.  Roll gently to make a smooth round balls.  Place 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheets.  Cover and chill 1 hour.  Bake in a 375 degree oven for 8 to 10 minutes or till bottoms are lightly browned.  Cool for 1 minute; transfer to racks. Cool.

Chocolate drizzle

½ cup semi sweet chocolate chips        2 tsp butter flavored shortening

In a heavy saucepan, combine chocolate pieces and shortening.  Heat and stir over low heat till chocolate begins to melt.  Remove from heat; stir till smooth.  Drizzle chocolate icing over cookies.  Makes 30 cookies.

For Freezer instructions: let thaw out on a cookie sheet for 15 to 20 minutes. Cook until the bottoms are lightly browned for 8 to 10 minutes in a 375 degree oven (the cookies will be very light in color). When cooled Drizzle with Chocolate drizzle.