Star-Spangled Cookies

Looking for a fun way to celebrate the 4th of July? Star-Spangled Cookies can help light up your holiday table with a little fun.

I shared the recipe during a 4-H foods meeting yesterday. I used the cherry gelatin on my trial run batch at home and then had the 4-Hers make the blue version. (The recipe is a variation of one I found on the Kraft Foods website for Jell-O pastel cookies.)

We melted almond bark and used a decorator's tube with a writing tip to drizzle it evenly over the cookies. While the almond bark was still wet, we then sprinkled with patriotic sprinkles.

With a whole shelf of Jell-O colors at the grocery store and sprinkles made for most any holiday, you could turn this treat into a dessert for any season. Enjoy!

Star-Spangled Cookies

3 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
3/4 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup shortening
2 pkg. (3 oz. each) Jell-O cherry flavor gelatin, DIVIDED
1 cup sugar
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla

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Almond bark
Sprinkles

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Mix flour, baking powder and salt. Beat butter in large bowl with mixer until creamy. Add sugar and 1 package gelatin; beat until light and fluffy. Blend in egg and vanilla. Gradually beat in flour mixture.

Shape dough into 1-inch balls. To make uniform cookies, use a cookie scoop. Put remaining gelatin mixture in a bowl; roll balls in dry gelatin. Place, 2 inches apart, on baking sheets sprayed with cooking spray. Flatten with bottom of glass.

Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until edges are very lightly browned. Cool on baking sheets 3 minutes. Remove to wire racks; cool completely.

Note: For best results, use the same flavor of gelatin for both the cookie dough and for rolling in prior to baking.

Makes about 5 dozen cookies. Serving is 2 cookies, 180 calories for the 2.

For Star-Spangled Cookies, melt almond bark in microwave at 50 percent power. Take care not to burn, stirring every minute, until melted. Put melted bark in a decorator tube and drizzle over cooled cookies. Top with sprinkles while the almond bark is still wet. You may change the sprinkles to fit the season or party.

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We also made Macaroons and used red and blue candy discs to give it the holiday flair.

Enjoy your 4th of July celebration!