1/2 ga Vanilla ice cream                 1/2 ts Edible gold-leaf powder
     8 oz Chocolate-flavored candy           12 ea ;Sugar Cookies (see below)
          -coating; melted                   12 ea ;Chocolate-Gingerbread
   1/2 c  ;Finely chopped Sugar-and-               -Cookies (see below)
          -Spice Pecans (see below)     
SUGAR COOKIES
     1 pk (20-oz) refrigerated                     All purpose flour
          -sliceable sugar cookie                  Garnish: Edible gold-leaf
          -dough                                   -powder
SUGAR AND SPICE PECANS
   3/4 c  Sugar                             1/4 ts Ground cloves
     1 ts Ground cinnamon                     1 ea Egg white
   1/2 ts Salt                            2 1/2 tb ;Water
   1/4 ts Ground nutmeg                       8 c  Pecan halves
   1/4 ts Ground allspice                   3/4 ts Edible gold-leaf powder
CHOCOLATE-GINGERBREAD
          -Cookies                            1 ts Baking soda
   1/2 c  Butter / margarine; softened        1 ts Ground cinnamon
   3/4 c  Sugar                             1/2 ts Salt
     1 lg Egg                               1/2 ts Baking powder
   1/2 c  Molasses                                 Garnish: edible gold-leaf
     3 c  All-purpose flour                        -powder
     2 tb Cocoa                          
 GOLD-DUSTED COOKIES ‘n’ CREAM DESSERT:
    Scoop ice cream into 12 balls.  Place ice-cream balls in freezer
 on a baking sheet until ready for use.
    Place melted candy coating in a heavy-duty, zip-top plastic bag.
 Snip a small hole in corner of bag; drizzle inside of 12 goblets to
 decorate. Set aside in a cool, dry place.  (Do not store glasses in
 refrigerator.)
    Place an ice-cream ball in each glass.  Sprinkle evenly with
 Sugar-and- Spice Pecans and gold-leaf powder; top with cookies.
 Serve with additional cookies and pecans, if desired.
 Yield: 12 servings.
 SUGAR COOKIES:
    Roll dough to 1/8-inch thickness on a lightly floured surface.  Dip
 star-shaped cookie cutter in flour; cut dough into desired sizes with
 cutters; place on greased baking sheets.
    Bake at 350F for 7 minutes or until lightly browned.  Cool 1
 minute, remove to wire racks to cool. Garnish, if desired.
 Yield: about 5 dozen cookies.
 SUGAR-AND-SPICE PECANS:
    Combine first 8 ingredients in a large bowl; stir well.  Add
 pecans; stir until evenly coated.  Spread in a lightly greased,
 foil-lined 15″ x 10″ x 1″ jellyroll pan.
    Bake at 275F for 50 to 55 minutes, stirring occasionally.
    Remove from pan, and cool on wax paper.  Place in a heavy-duty
 zip-top plastic bag; sprinkle with gold-leaf powder, shaking bag to
 coat pecans. Store in airtight container.  Yield: 8 cups.
 NOTE: for the Gold-Dusted Cookies ‘n’ Cream Dessert, crumble the
 pecans and sprinkle over the top as seen above.
 CHOCOLATE – GINGERBREAD COOKIES:
    Beat butter at medium speed with an electric mixture until creamy;
 gradually add sugar, beating well. Add egg and molasses, beating well.
    Combine flour and next 5 ingredients.  Gradually add to butter
 mixture, beating until blended.
    Divide dough in half; wrap each portion in plastic wrap, and
 refrigerate 1 hour.
    Roll each portion to 1/8-inch thickness on a lightly floured
 surface. Cut into desired sizes with star-shaped cutters; place on
 lightly greased baking sheets.
    Bake at 350F for 5 to 7 minutes.  Remove to wire racks to cool.
 Garnish, if desired.  Yield: about 5 dozen cookies.
November, 1994 “Southern Living” Typos by Jeff Pruett.
                
                 Yields       
                12 servings                
