Cookie Quilt Table Runner

Just like a quilter’s fabric collection, your selection of colored dough adds individuality and charm to this “quilt.” You’ll find specific designs to follow, but feel free to create your own patterns as well. You can cut all the dough Squares into triangles or rectangles to make whatever pattern you prefer.

1½ cups (3 sticks) margarine or butter, softened

2/3 cup granulated sugar

4 cups all-purpose flour

Red or green paste food color*

Green or red sugar

3 eight-inch squares cardboard

Aluminum foil or nonabsorbent gift wrap

Heat oven to 300°. Line square pan, 8 X 8 X 2 inches, with waxed paper, allowing ends of waxed paper to hang over opposite sides of pan for “handles.” Beat margarine and sugar in large bowl on medium speed until fluffy. Beat in 2 cups of the flour on low speed until evenly mixed. Work in remaining flour with hands until dough holds together. If crumbly, work in 2 to 3 teaspoons margarine, softened.

Divide dough into 3 equal parts. Color 1 part dough by working in red or green food color with hands. (To prevent food color from staining hands, wear plastic gloves or insert hands into plastic bags.) Press dough evenly on waxed paper in pan, pressing edges firmly. Lift dough out of pan, using waxed paper handles, and invert onto ungreased cookie sheet. Remove waxed paper. If necessary, trim or reshape edges of dough so dough is square. Repeat with remaining 2 parts Brush water over square of plain dough; immediately sprinkle with green sugar. Leave remaining square of dough plain.

Cut each square as shown in diagram, using sharp knife. Half of each dough will be cut into rectangles and the other half into triangles. Accurate cutting is important for best appearance. Bake 20 to 25 minutes or just until edges begin to brown and dough is dry. Immediately recut the cut lines; let cookies stand on cookie sheet 5 minutes. Remove to wire rack; cool completely.

Cover cardboard squares with aluminum foil. Arrange cookies on cardboard as desired to make quilt squares (see designs). If necessary, carefully trim ends of baked cookies, using sharp serrated knife in sawing motion. Three 8-inch quilt squares (32 cookies each).

* Egg Yolk Paint can be substituted for the food color. Shape plain dough into 3 squares as directed. Brush Egg Yolk Paint evenly over 1 square of dough. Brush water over second square of dough; immediately sprinkle with green sugar. Leave remaining square of dough plain.

 

It is a quote. Betty Crocker’s New Christmas Cookbook 1993