Chocolate-Filled Russian Tea Cakes

• cup butter, softened↗1 cup

  softened

• cup powdered sugar↗1⁄2 cup
• teaspoon vanilla↗1 teaspoon
• cups flour↗2 cups
• teaspoon salt↗1⁄4 teaspoon
• cup pecans, finely chopped↗3⁄4 cup

  finely chopped

• milk chocolate stars↗48
• cup powdered sugar↗1 cup
• tablespoon red sugar crystals↗1 tablespoon
• tablespoon green sugar crystals↗1 tablespoon

Step-by-step instructions

1. 1

   Heat oven to 400.

2. 2

   In large bowl, beat butter, 1/2 cup powdered sugar and the vanilla until well blended.

3. 3

   On low speed, beat in flour, salt and pecans.

4. 4

   For each cookie, shape a scant Tbsp of dough around 1 chocolate star to make a 1-inch ball.

5. 5

   Place 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet.

6. 6

   Bake 12-15 minutes or until set and bottoms start to turn golden brown.

7. 7

   Combine powdered sugar and red and green sugar.

8. 8

   Mix well.

9. 9

   Immediately remove baked cookies from cookies sheets and roll in sugar coating.

10. 10

    Cool completely on cooling racks, about 30 minutes.

11. 11

    Roll in sugar coating again.