Recipe: Santa’s coat buttons

Santa’s coat buttons are so much fun to make with a group of children. It is a watch-carefully-and-follow baking instruction project.

— Joan Kay GeorgeHerzberg, Manhattan Beach

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Santa’s coat buttons

Total time: 1 hour, plus chilling time for the dough

Servings: Makes about 3 dozen cookies.

Note: Adapted from Joan Kay GeorgeHerzberg. Red and white decorating sugars can be found at most well-stocked markets, as well as cooking and baking supply stores.

2 cups (9.5 ounces) flour

2/3 cup powdered sugar

1/2 teaspoons salt

1 cup (2 sticks) plus 2 tablespoons butter, cut into ½-inch pieces, at room temperature

1/4 cup red decorating sugar

1 teaspoon white decorating sugar.

1. In the bowl of a food processor, combine the flour, powdered sugar and salt. Add the butter, pulsing until the dough comes together.

2. Remove the dough and divide in half. Shape each half into a log about 1½ inches in diameter, rolling in waxed paper. Chill the dough until firm enough to slice, at least 30 minutes.

3. Heat the oven to 350 degrees, and line 2 baking sheets with parchment. Pour the red sugar into a small bowl or baking dish to a thickness of about one-half inch.

4. Cut each dough log into one-half-inch rounds. Press each round lightly onto the sugar to coat, then place, sugar side up, onto the parchment-lined baking sheet 1 to 2 inches apart. Sprinkle a few white crystals on top of each cookie for added sparkle. Use the blunt end of a skewer or similar item to make 2 indentations for “buttonholes.�

5. Bake the cookies for 8 minutes, then reverse the sheets and continue to bake until the cookies are golden on the bottom (no coloring on top), 8 to 12 minutes longer. Cool on racks.

Each of 36 servings: 93 calories; 1 gram protein; 9 grams carbohydrates; 0 fiber; 6 grams fat; 4 grams saturated fat; 15 mg cholesterol; 4 grams sugar; 33 mg sodium.