Food Friday: Witches' Fingers

Witches’ Fingers

Ingredients

• 40 (40) whole, blanched almond
• Red icing gel, optional
• 1 cup (250 mL) CRISCO® Golden Shortening
• 1 cup (250 mL) icing sugar
• 1 (1) egg
• 1 tsp (5 mL) almond extract
• 1 tsp (5 mL) vanilla
• 2¾ cups flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp salt
• 15-20 drops green food colouring
• 50 ml strawberry jam

Instructions

1. Using a small paint brush, paint each almond with red icing gel. Set aside to dry..
2. In a bowl, beat butter, icing sugar, egg, almond extract and vanilla until smooth.
3. Add flour, baking powder and salt and combine.
4. Mix in green food coloring, a few drops at a time, until color is as desired. Divide dough in two, wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
5. Preheat oven to 325º. Spray two baking sheets with cooking spray.
6. Shape 1 heaping tablespoon dough into finger shape. Make slashes in several places with a sharp knife to form knuckles. Place on baking sheet and press painted “nail” in one end of finger. Continue until dough is used up.
7. Bake for 20 -25 minutes until golden. Remove from oven and let cool on baking sheet.
8. When cooled, remove nail from finger, place dab of strawberry jam on nail bed, and replace nail, pressing down lightly so that jam oozes out from beneath.