Lemon-Frosted Sugar Cookies

You may want to start this recipe early in the day because the dough requires at least 4 hours to chill.

Yield: 20 cookies (serving size: 1 cookie)

Ingredients

• Cookies:
• 1  cup  granulated sugar
• 1/2  cup  stick margarine or butter, softened
• 1  large egg
• 1  large egg white
• 1  tablespoon  fat-free milk
• 1  teaspoon  grated lemon rind
• 1  teaspoon  vanilla extract
• 2  cups  all-purpose flour
• 1/4  cup  toasted wheat germ
• 1  teaspoon  baking powder
• 1/2  teaspoon  baking soda
• 1/8  teaspoon  salt
• 
  Icing:
• 2  cups  powdered sugar
• 1  tablespoon  fat-free milk
• 1  tablespoon  fresh lemon juice
• 1/4  teaspoon  vanilla extract
• Food coloring (optional)
• Assorted sugar sprinkles (optional)

Preparation

To prepare cookies, beat granulated sugar and margarine in a large bowl at medium speed of a mixer until well-blended (about 4 minutes). Add egg and next 4 ingredients (egg through 1 teaspoon vanilla), beating well. Lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Combine flour and next 4 ingredients (flour through salt). Add flour mixture to sugar mixture, stirring well. Spoon dough onto plastic wrap; flatten to a 1 1/2-inch thickness. Cover tightly with plastic wrap; chill 4 hours or overnight.

Preheat oven to 400°.

Roll dough to a 15 x 12-inch rectangle on a heavily floured surface. Cut dough into 20 (3-inch) squares using a sharp knife. Place cookies 2 inches apart on ungreased baking sheets. Bake at 400° for 8 minutes or until golden. Immediately remove cookies from pans using a wide spatula, and cool on wire rack.

To prepare icing, combine powdered sugar, 1 tablespoon milk, lemon juice, and 1/4 teaspoon vanilla. Stir in food coloring, if desired. Spread about 2 teaspoons of the icing over each cookie, or place icing in a small zip-top plastic bag. Snip a tiny hole in one corner, and drizzle icing over cookies. Sprinkle with assorted sugar sprinkles, if desired.

Nutritional Information

Calories:

188 (24% from fat)

Fat:

5.1g (sat 1g,mono 2.1g,poly 1.6g)

Protein:

2.2g

Carbohydrate:

33.8g

Fiber:

0.6g

Cholesterol:

11mg

Iron:

0.8mg

Sodium:

131mg

Calcium:

21mg

Find more delicious, all-time favorite cookie recipes in our 25-Days to Christmas Cookie Countdown., Cooking Light, DECEMBER 1998