Christmas Tree Sandwich Cookies

These holiday-perfect spiced sensations hold a sweet surprise inside.

Ingredients

• 3½ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 Tbs. ground ginger
• 2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
• ½ tsp. baking soda
• ¼ tsp. salt
• 1½ cups butter, at room temp.
• ½ cup dark brown sugar
• ¼ cup molasses
• 1 egg
• 1 tsp. grated lemon zest
• 1 cup confectioners’ sugar
• 1 Tbs. milk
• Decorating sugars, white decorating icing and M&M’s Minis

Instructions

1. Heat oven to 350°F. Combine first 5 ingredients; reserve. On medium speed, beat 1 cup butter and brown sugar until fluffy, 2 min. On low, beat in molasses and egg. Gradually beat in reserved flour mixture until dough forms. Divide in half; shape into disks. Wrap in plastic wrap; chill 1 hr.
2. On floured surface, roll out one disk to ¼” thickness. Using 3½” tree cutter, cut out shapes. Place 1″ apart on baking sheets. Using 1½” tree cutter, cut out centers of half of cookies. Repeat with remaining dough, rerolling scraps as needed. Bake until golden, 8–9 min. Let cool 5 min. Transfer to racks; let cool.
3. On medium, beat remaining butter and zest. Beat in confectioners’ sugar and milk until fluffy, 2 min.; spread on uncut cookies. Sprinkle with sugar; top with cutout cookies. Decorate with icing and M&M’s.