Recipe: Snow cookies

When I was a little girl in Scotland, my mother used to make a very simple yet delicious snow cake, which was topped with white icing and shredded coconut.

PHOTOS: Holiday Cookie Bake-off winning cookies and bakers

— Christina Conte (christinascucina.blogspot.com), Glendale

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Total time: 35 minutes, plus cooling times

Servings: Makes about 1½ dozen cookies

Note: Adapted from Christina Conte.

1 cup (2 sticks) butter

1/2 cup granulated sugar

2 cups (9.25 ounces) flour, sifted

1/2 cup raspberry jam

1 cup powdered sugar

1 1/2 tablespoons milk

1/2 cup unsweetened, finely shredded coconut

1. Heat the oven to 350 degrees.

2. In the bowl of a stand mixer using the paddle attachment, or in a medium bowl using an electric mixer, cream together the butter and granulated sugar until smooth, then slowly stir in the flour until combined.

3. On a well-floured surface, roll the dough out to one-fourth-inch thick and cut out cookies using a 2-inch round cookie cutter.

4. Place the dough on a parchment- or Silpat-lined cookie sheet and bake until set, 8 to 10 minutes (do not let them brown). Cool a few minutes, then place the cookies on a rack to cool completely.

5. While the cookies are cooling, make the icing by mixing together the milk and powdered sugar to the consistency of thick syrup (the icing will have the consistency of school glue and should not run off the cookie when spread over); add a little more sugar to thicken or milk to thin, as needed.

6. Sandwich the cookies, placing a generous teaspoon of jam between the cookies. Spread the icing over the cookies and sprinkle with coconut; set aside until the icing is hardened.

Each of 18 cookies: 229 calories; 2 grams protein; 30 grams carbohydrates; 1 gram fiber; 12 grams fat; 8 grams saturated fat; 27 mg cholesterol; 18 grams sugar; 3 mg sodium.