Holly Clusters

Makes: 4dozen cookies. Prep: 15 minutes.
Chill: 2 hours. Bake: 350º for 10 to 12 minutes.

Ingredients

2 cups all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon baking powder
¼ teaspoon salt
½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
¾ cup sugar
1 egg plus 1 yolk
1-teaspoon vanilla
Green food coloring
Red mini candy-coated chocolate candies

1. In medium bowl, whisk flour, baking powder and salt.
2. In large bowl, beat butter and sugar until smooth. Beat in egg, then yolk and vanilla.  Stir in flour mixture.  Tint dough green with food coloring.  Wrap dough in plastic; refrigerate 2 hours.
3. Heat oven to 350º.  Using a heaping teaspoon of dough, shape into 2-inch log.  Place on ungreased baking sheet.  With scissors held at a 45º angle, make 3 snips along the length of the log, on the top, at ½-inch intervals; do not cut completely through the dough.  Twist cut pieces in opposite directions, to form leaf-shaped pieces that are still attached to each other. Pinch top and bottom “leaves” slightly. Repeat with remaining dough.  Decorate with one or two red candies per cookie.