Lemon Rope Trees Recipe

Let cookie dough stand at room temperature for 5-10 minutes to soften. In a small bowl, combine dough and lemon peel. Tint with food coloring if desired. Divide dough into 20 pieces; shape each into an 8-in. rope. Place 2 in. apart on baking sheets coated with cooking spray; form into tree shapes. Bake at 350° for 8-10 minutes or until firm. Cool for 2 minutes before removing to wire racks to cool completely. For icing, combine confectioners' sugar and enough lemon juice to achieve desired consistency. Drizzle over cookies; decorate with sprinkles. For stars, place gumdrops on a sugared work surface. With a rolling pin, roll gumdrops to 1/8-in. thickness. Using a 1/2-in. star-shaped cookie cutter, cut out five stars from each gumdrop. Gently press stars into frosting on tops of trees. Yield: 20 cookies.