3/4 c Vegetable shortening
Butter flavored
1 1/4 c Light brown sugar, packed
2 tb Milk
1 tb Vanilla extract
1 Egg
2 c All-purpose flour
1 ts Salt
3/4 ts Baking soda
1 c Semisweet chocolate chips
1 c Pecans — coarsely chopped
Icing:
1 1/4 c Powdered sugar
3 tb Vegetable shortening
2 ts Milk
1 ts Light corn syrup
Red and green chewy candies
Or gum drops
Preheat oven to 375 degrees; line 4 cookie sheets with foil and lightly
grease the foil. In a large bowl with an electric mixer on medium speed,
beat the brown sugar, shortening, milk and vanilla extract until well
blended. Beat in the egg. In a medium bowl, combine the flour, salt and
baking soda. With a spoon, stir into the shortening mixture just until
blended. Stir in the chocolate chips and pecans. Divide the dough into
quarters; divide each quarter into 12 pieces. Roll each piece into a 1-inch
ball. Arrange the balls on the cookie sheets almost touching to form an
8-inch circle. Flatten the balls slightly with your fingers. Repeat with
the remaining balls to make 3 more wreaths. Bake one cookie sheet at a time
for 12 to 14 minutes, or until the wreaths are lightly browned. Do not
overbake. Cool completely before removing from the cookie sheet.
Meanwhile, prepare the icing. In a small bowl with the mixer on medium
speed, beat the powdered sugar, shortening, milk and corn syrup until
smooth. If too thick, thin with a little milk; if too thin, add more
powdered sugar. The icing may be covered and refrigerated for up to 1
week. Makes 1 1/2 cups. Spread or pipe the icing over the cooled wreaths.
Cut the red and green candies as needed for flowers and leaves. Place in
clusters around the wreath. Makes 4 wreaths.
Yields
48 Servings