New Zealand Holly Cookies

Description
Almost too pretty a cookie to eat, but they taste so good! I actually won first prize for these cookies when I was a girlscout at age 13. Although I am unsure of the origin of the recipe, I thought it was too good to keep to myself. If you're creative and are up for a challenge, this is a perfect recipe for you. (requires a clean small paintbrush).15 servings 1 hour preparation.

Cookies

 * 2 cups flour
 * 1 cup sugar
 * 1 teaspoon cinnamon
 * ¾ teaspoon baking powder
 * ⅔ cup raspberry jam
 * ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
 * ½ cup butter or margarine
 * ¼ cup milk
 * 1 beaten egg

Decoration

 * 2-3 teaspoons milk
 * 2 cups powdered sugar
 * red cinnamon candies,
 * green food coloring

Directions

 * 1) Combine flour, sugar, cinnamon, baking powder, and ¼ tsp salt.
 * 2) Cut in margarine (like pie dough).
 * 3) Make a well in the center of the dough.
 * 4) Combine egg and ¼ cup milk and pour them into the well.
 * 5) Stir dough until moist.
 * 6) Flour a flat surface and roll dough out to ⅛" thick.
 * 7) Cut into 2" circles.
 * 8) Bake at 375 °F for 8–10 minutes.
 * 9) Place on a rack to cool.
 * 10) Once cooled, place ½ tsp jam on the bottom of one cookie.
 * 11) Cover the jam with another cookie, ie cookie- jam- cookie.
 * 12) In a small bowl stir together powdered sugar, vanilla and enough milk to make a glaze.
 * 13) Glaze the top of one side of each double cookie and place 2-3 cinnamon candies into the glaze.
 * 14) The candies are to be the holly berries.
 * 15) Allow glaze to set.
 * 16) Use a small clean paintbrush to paint several holly leaves and a stem on each cookie using green food coloring.