Christmas Cookies: Melt- Aways

The name says it all - these cookies melt in your mouth.

Active time:  25 minutes, plus chilling
Bake time:  19- 22 minutes per batch
Makes:  42 cookies


Melt-Aways  Good Housekeeping

2      cups all-purpose flour

1/4   cup cornstarch

1/8   teaspoon salt

1      cup butter (2 sticks), softened (no substitutions)

2      cups confectioners' sugar

2      teaspoons vanilla

1.  Preheat oven to 325ºF.  On waxed paper, combine flour, cornstarch, and salt.

2.  In large bowl, with mixer on medium speed, beat butter until creamy.  Beat in 1 cup confectioners' sugar until light and fluffy.  On low speed, beat in flour mixture, then vanilla.  Cover bowl with plastic and refrigerate 1 hour.

3.  With hands, shape dough by heaping measuring teaspoons into 1-inch balls.  Place balles, 1-inch apart, on ungreased large cookie sheet.  Bake until set and lightly golden around edges, 19- 22 minutes.  With wide metal spatula, transfer to wire rack to cool slightly.

4.  Sift remaining 1 cup of confectioners' sugar into medium bowl.  While cookies are still warm, roll in sugar to coat; return to rack to cool completely.  When cool, gently roll cookies in sugar again.  Repeat with remaining dough in sugar.

5.  Store cookies in a cookie jar up to 1 week.

Each cookie:  About 90 calories, 1g protein, 11g carbohydrate, 5g total fat (3g saturated), 0g fiber, 13mg cholesterol, 55mg sodium.