Berlinerkranzer

Christmas cookies

3/4 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup shortening
1 cup sugar
2 tsp. Grated orange peal
2 eggs
4 cups flour
1 egg white
2 tbsp. sugar
red candies cherries
green candies citron

Heat oven to 400 degrees. Mix thoroughly butter, shortening, 1 cup sugar, the orange peal, and 2 eggs. Blend in flour. Shape dough by rounded teaspoonfuls into ropes, each 6-inches long. Form each rope into circle, bringing one end over and through in a single knot. Let ½ inch extend at each end. Place on ungreased baking sheet.

Beat egg white until foamy; beat in 2 tablespoons sugar, 1 tbsp. at a time. Brush tops of cookies with meringue. Press bits of candied cherries on center of knot for holly berries, and candied citron for leaves. Bake 10-12 minutes or until set but not brown. Immediately remove from baking sheet.

Makes about 6 dozen cookies.