2022 Red Velvet Cookie Ornaments

Preheat oven to 400°F.

1. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, mix the butter and sugar on low speed. Add egg, red food coloring gel, vanilla, cocoa, and melted chocolate. Once all combined, add flour, baking powder, and salt, continuing to mix on low speed until the dough forms a ball. Transfer the dough onto lightly floured parchment paper, cover with another sheet of parchment, and roll into a 1/4 inch sheet, then refrigerate for 30 minutes. Cut out 3 - 3.5" snowflakes with a cookie cutter and shape/lightly press on the back of the silicone mold. Bake on the middle rack for 8-10 minutes, allow to cool to room temperature before removing the "half ornaments" from the mold.
2. To make the royal icing: in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, combine powdered sugar and meringue powder mixing on low speed, add water, vanilla, and mix on low speed until combined. Then, increase the speed to medium, allowing the icing to whip for 8 minutes. To make a thinner consistency: add 1/2 tsp of water at a time.
3. Decorate your cooled red velvet half-spheres as desired and allow them to fully set/dry. Adhere the two half ornament spheres with a bit of royal icing and allow to fully dry/set before attaching the gilded mini Reese's with a bit of icing.