Santa Cookies
Makes 11 cookies
Ingredients
For the Cookie
1 cup butter; softened
1 cup sugar
1 tablespoon milk
1.5 teaspoons vanilla
2 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
miniature semisweet chocolate pieces
red paste food coloring

Directions
1. In a large mixing bowl beat butter on medium to high speed for one minute. Add sugar; beat until combined. Beat in 1 tablespoon milk and 1.5 teaspoons vanilla. Beat in the flour; you may need to mix in some with a wooden spoon.
2. Remove 1 cup of the dough. Stir red coloring into the remaining dough.
3. Shape each Santa by making on 3/4 -inch ball and four 1/4-inch balls from plain dough.
4. From red dough, shape one 1-inch ball and five 1/2-inch balls. Flatten the 1-inch red ball on cookie sheet until 1/2-inch thick. Attach plain 3/4 –inch ball for the head and flatten until 1/2-inch thick. Attached four 1/2-inch red balls for the arms and legs, and place plain 1/4-inch balls at the ends of arms and legs for the hands. Shape remaining 1/2-inch red ball into a hat Add chocolate pieces for the eyes and buttons.
5. Bake in a 325 degree oven for 12-15 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. Cool for 3 minutes on a cookie sheet. Place on wire rack to cool.

For the Icing
Ingredients
1/2  cup shorting
2 1/3 cup powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
milk (add in slowly and as needed)
heart shaped red hot candies

Directions
1. In a small mixing bowl beat shortening and vanilla with an electric mixer for one minute. Gradually add 1 cup of powdered sugar, mixing well. Add in 1 tablespoon milk. Gradually beat in remaining powdered sugar and enough milk (2-5 teaspoons) to make the frosting piping consistency.
2. Spoon frosting into a decorating bag fitted with a star tip. Pipe where desired and attach the cinnamon heart candy to the frosting for his mustache to create the nose.