Recipes and Cooking Chocolate Wreath Sugar Cookies Shavings of chocolate add a sweet decoration to this classic sugar cookie. These cookies are pretty enough to gift to friends throughout the season. By BHG Test Kitchen BHG Test Kitchen The Better Homes & Gardens Test Kitchen has been in continuous operation for nearly 100 years, developing and testing practical, reliable recipes that readers can enjoy at home. The Test Kitchen team includes culinary specialists, food stylists, registered and licensed nutritionists, and other experts with Bachelor of Science degrees in food science, food and nutrition, or culinary arts. Together, the team tests more than 2,500 recipes, produces more than 2,500 food images, and creates more than 1,000 food videos each year in the state-of-the-art test kitchen. Learn about BHG's Editorial Process Updated on December 12, 2019 Print Rate It Share Share Tweet Pin Email Photo: Jason Donnelly Prep Time: 1 hrs Chill Time: 2 hrs Bake Time: 7 mins Total Time: 1 hrs Yield: 100 3-inch cookies Jump to Nutrition Facts Ingredients 1 cup butter, softened 1 ½ cup sugar ½ teaspoon baking powder ½ teaspoon salt 2 eggs ¼ cup milk 1 teaspoon vanilla ½ teaspoon almond extract ½ cup ground blanched almonds 3 cup all-purpose flour 1 recipe Royal Icing chocolate bars green food coloring red candy-coated chocolate pieces Royal Icing 1 16 ounce package powdered sugar (4-1/4 cups) 3 tablespoon meringue powder ½ teaspoon cream of tartar ½ cup warm water 1 teaspoon vanilla Directions In a large mixing bowl beat butter with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds. Add sugar, baking powder, and salt. Beat until combined, scraping sides of bowl occasionally. Beat in eggs, milk, vanilla, and almond extract until combined. Beat in the ground almonds and as much of the flour as you can with the mixer. Using a wooden spoon, stir in any remaining flour. Divide dough in half. Cover and chill dough about 2 hours or until easy to handle. Preheat oven to 350°F. On a lightly floured surface, roll half the dough at a time to 1/8-inch thickness. Using a 3- to 3-1/2-inch round cookie cutter, cut out dough. Place cutouts 1 inch apart on ungreased cookie sheets. Bake for 7 to 9 minutes or until edges are light brown. Transfer cookies to a wire rack and let cool. On a cutting board, use a large chef's knife to chop chocolate bars into shards; set aside. Outline and flood cookies with glaze-consistency green-tinted Royal Icing. While icing is still wet, arrange chocolate shards in a wreath shape on each cookie. Attach red candy-coated chocolate pieces with icing. Royal Icing In a large mixing bowl stir together the powdered sugar, meringue powder, and cream of tartar. Add the water and vanilla. Beat with an electric mixer on low speed until combined; beat on high speed for 7 to 10 minutes or until icing is very stiff. If not using right away, cover bowl with a damp paper towel and cover paper towel with plastic wrap; chill for up to 48 hours. To Store: Layer cookies between sheets of waxed paper in an airtight container; cover. Store at room temperature for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 3 months. **Tip: Meringue powder is a mixture of pasteurized dried egg whites, sugar, and edible gums. Look for it in the baking aisle of your supermarket or at a specialty food store. Rate it Print Nutrition Facts (per serving) 86 Calories 4g Fat 12g Carbs 1g Protein Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label Nutrition Facts Calories 86 % Daily Value * Total Fat 4g 5% Saturated Fat 2g 10% Cholesterol 14mg 5% Sodium 41mg 2% Total Carbohydrate 12g 4% Total Sugars 9g Protein 1g Calcium 10.1mg 1% Iron 0.2mg 1% Potassium 13mg 0% Folate, total 8.1mcg *The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.