Holiday Apple Slice Cookies

Instructions

• Make the frosting: Add the cream cheese to a medium bowl and whisk until creamy. Add the honey and vanilla, and whisk until combined and smooth. Set aside.
• Slice the apples crosswise into ⅛-inch thick rounds starting 1 inch up from the bottoms. Each apple should yield 3–4 slices, or 12–16 total. Reserve the remaining apple trimmings for another use. Remove any seeds, then pat the apple slices with a paper towel to absorb any excess moisture.
• To make the reindeer apple cookies, scoop 1 tablespoon of peanut butter onto an apple slice and spread evenly over the surface. Place a mini peanut butter cookie at the lower center of the slice, then place a raspberry on top of the cookie. Add 2 candy eyes to the middle and 2 pretzels on the top as antlers. Repeat to make 3–4 more reindeer cookies.
• To make the star apple cookies, spread 1 tablespoon of cream cheese frosting evenly over an apple slice.
• Place a small star-shaped cookie cutter in a small bowl of hot water for 1–2 minutes. Remove the cutter from the water and quickly pat dry, then cut out a star-shaped hole from the center of the apple slice. Place the cutout star in an offset position over the star-shaped hole and decorate with festive sprinkles. Repeat to make 3–4 more star cookies.
• To make the wreath apple cookies, use a small round cookie cutter to cut out a round hole from the center of an apple slice. Transfer the remaining cream cheese frosting to a piping bag fitted with a small round tip and pipe around the apple slice in circular curlicues, until you have gone all the way around the apple slice 2 times. Decorate with green and red holly-shaped sprinkles. Repeat to make 3–4 more wreath cookies.
• Enjoy!