Classic Cup Christmas Cookies

Ingredients

• 1 cup unsalted butter
• 1.5 cups confectioners' sugar
• 1 egg
• 0.5 teaspoons orange extract
• 4 teaspoons orange zest
• 2.25 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1.5 cups dried cherries
• 0.5 cups chopped pistachio nuts
• 4 ounces vanilla flavored confectioners' coating , melted

Instructions

1. 1

   In a medium bowl, cream together the butter and confectioners' sugar. Add egg, orange extract, and orange zest; mix until smooth. Sift together the flour and baking powder; stir into the creamed mixture. Then, stir in the dried cherries and chopped pistachios. Roll dough into a 10 inch long log about 2 1/2 inches in diameter, wrap in plastic or wax paper, and freeze for 2 hours. If dough is too difficult to form a log, refrigerate for 1 hour first.

2. 2

   Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease two cookie sheets.

3. 3

   Cut roll into 1/2 inch slices and place onto the cookie sheet. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes in the preheated oven. Cool on the cookie sheet 1 to 2 minutes before removing to cool on a wire rack. Use melted candy coating to drizzle a striped pattern on the cookies when they are completely cool.