Dora Christmas Cookies

Dress up simple sugar cookies with ruffly rows of fruit leather, jelly beans and decorating gel and--voila!--it's Dora! Tune in to Dora's Christmas Carol!

Mermaid Adventure Sun., 6/23 @ 7PM ET on Nick Jr.

Ingredients

• 1 roll (16.5 oz.) refrigerated sugar cookie dough
• 2/3 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 Royal Frosting (recipe below)
• 24 small red jelly beans
• 12 rolls red "Fruit by the Foot" (or similar fruit roll-up snack)
• 12 piece chocolate taffy, (Tootsie Rolls)
• 24 purple candy-coated chocolate-covered sunflower seeds
• 1 tube black decorating frosting
• 1 tube red decorating gel
• Royal Frosting:
• 1 box (16 oz.) confectioners sugar
• 3 tbsp. egg white powder (Just Whites)
• 6 tbsp. warm water

Supplies

• Dora cookie template
• Girl-shaped cookie cutter
• Small plastic resealable bags

Directions

1. Step 1

   Preheat oven to 350°F. Line two cookie sheets with parchment paper.

2. Step 2

   Knead the dough with the flour on a clean surface until well blended and smooth. Roll out half of the dough on a lightly floured surface to a scant 1/4-inch thickness. Use the template to cut out as many Dora shapes as possible. Transfer the shapes to the prepared cookie sheets about 2 inches apart. Re-roll scrapes with the remaining dough and cut out more shapes.

3. Step 3

   Bake until cookies are golden brown and slightly firm, about 10-12 minutes. Transfer the cookies to a wire rack to cool completely. Repeat with the remaining cookies.

4. Step 4

   Spoon the royal frosting into a freezer weight plastic resealable bag and seal the bag. Heat the chocolate taffy pieces in the microwave for no more than 3 seconds to soften slightly. Roll each piece on a clean surface--about a 2 inch square. Use the 'hair' template and a small knife to cut out 12 'hair' pieces. Set aside on a sheet of wax paper.

5. Step 5

   Snip a very small corner from the bag containing the Royal Frosting. Pipe two dots of Royal Frosting at the base of the cookies and add the jelly beans as the feet. Pipe a line of frosting at the head and add the chocolate taffy hair.

6. Step 6

   Using one roll of fruit leather per cookie, cut a 2-inch piece from each roll and attach with some of the Royal Frosting as the front of Dora's dress. Using the photo as a guide, gather the fruit leather on one of the long sides, every 1/2 inch or so, and press together to make a ruffle. Cut a length long enough to cover the bottom edge of the cookie. Pipe a line of royal frosting at the bottom edge of the cookie and attach the first row of ruffles. Repeat to make three additional ruffle rows. Attach two small ruffles for the sleeve pieces. Cut a small bow from the scraps and attach at the side of her hair with some frosting.

7. Step 7

   Pipe a line and a few dots of frosting to make the waistband and attach the small purple candies at her neck. Pipe eyes, nose and mouth with the decorating frosting and fill in Dora's mouth with red decorating gel. Repeat with the remaining cookies.

8. Step 8

   Allow the cookies to dry at least 2 hours before stacking.

9. Royal Frosting Recipe:

   Combine all of the ingredients together in a medium bowl. Use an electric mixer on medium speed and beat until smooth. Transfer the frosting to an airtight container. Refrigerate until ready to use. Makes about 2 1/2 cups.

Nurtition Facts

• Calories: 445
• Total Fat: 10g
• Saturated Fat: 3g
• Trans Fat: 3g
• Cholesterol: 5mg
• Sodium: 200mg
• Total Carbs: 88g
• Fiber: 1g
• Sugar: 62g
• Protein: 3g