Vanilla Bean Spice Sugar Cookies

Total Time: 25 mins Preparation Time: 15 mins Cook Time: 10 mins

Ingredients

• 1 vanilla bean
• 3/4 cup butter, softened
• 3/4 cup vanilla sugar
• 1 large egg, lightly beaten
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/8 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1 (12 ounce) package chocolate chips, divided
• shortening
• sparkling sugar

Recipe

• 1 cut vanilla bean in half lengthwise.
• 2 carefully scrape out seeds, using a small sharp knife.
• 3 set seeds aside.
• 4 beat butter in a large mixing bowl at medium speed of an electric mixer until creamy.
• 5 gradually add vanilla sugar and vanilla bean seeds, beating until light and fluffy.
• 6 add egg and vanilla extract, mixing well.
• 7 combine flour,spices and salt,gradually add to butter mixture, beating until smooth.
• 8 divide dough into four.
• 9 wrap each in plastic wrap, and chill 1 hour.
• 10 roll each dough to 1/4" thickness on a lightly floured surface.
• 11 cut with 3" and 4" your favorite cookie cutters.
• 12 place on lightly greased cookie sheets.
• 13 bake at 350° for 8 to 10 minutes or until edges of cookies are lightly browned.
• 14 cool 1 minute on cookie sheets; remove to wire racks, and cool completely.
• 15 combine 1/2 cup chocolate morsels and 1 tablespoon shortening in a 1-cup glass measure.
• 16 melt morsels according to package directions.
• 17 place cookies on a wire rack over wax paper.
• 18 pour or spread chocolate mixture over each cookie, tilting cookie to coat completely.
• 19 sprinkle cookies with sparkling sugar.
• 20 let stand until frosting hardens.
• 21 repeat procedure with remaining morsels, shortening, and sugar until all cookies are decorated.