Spooky Halloween Trees

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup Land O Lakes Butter, softened
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1 Land O Lakes Egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 1/4 cup Land O Lakes Butter, softened
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 3 to 4 tablespoons Land O Lakes Half & Half or Fat Free Half & Half
• Black licorice twists
• Halloween sprinkles and/or decorator sugars, if desired

1. Combine flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda and salt in bowl; set aside.
2. Combine 1/2 cup butter and sugar in bowl; beat at medium speed until creamy.
3. Add egg and vanilla; continue beating until well mixed.
4. Add flour mixture; beat at low speed until well mixed.
5. Divide dough in half.
6. Shape each half into ball; flatten slightly.
7. Wrap each in plastic food wrap; refrigerate at least 2 hours or until firm.
8. Heat oven to 325F.
9. Roll out dough on lightly floured surface, one-half at a time, (keeping remaining dough refrigerated), to 12x7-inch rectangle.
10. (Trim edges if necessary.)
11. Cut rectangle in half lengthwise with pizza cutter or sharp knife.
12. Make 5 crosswise cuts in each half, 2 inches apart, creating 12 (3 1/2x2-inch) rectangles.
13. Place 1 inch apart onto ungreased cookie sheets.
14. Bake 6-8 minutes or just until set.
15. Cool 1 minute on cookie sheet; remove to cooling rack.
16. Cool completely.
17. Combine all frosting ingredients in bowl, adding enough half & half for desired spreading consistency.
18. Beat at low speed until well mixed.
19. Cut licorice twists into 3-inch lengths.
20. Cut slits on 1 end of licorice using sharp knife or kitchen shears to within 1 inch of other end to form tree with 3 or 4 branches.
21. Carefully bend or peel apart branches.
22. Working with 2 or 3 cookies at a time so frosting doesnt harden, frost cookies.
23. Place licorice tree onto frosting; sprinkle with Halloween sprinkles or decorator sugars, if desired.

flour, unsweetened cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, salt, butter, sugar, egg, vanilla, powdered sugar, butter, vanilla, ground cinnamon, black licorice twists, sprinkles

Taken from www.landolakes.com/recipe/1744/spooky-halloween-trees (may not work)