Hazelnut Shortbread Trees

Directions

1. 1
   Beat butter, orange peel and sifted powdered sugar in large bowl with electric mixer until light and fluffy. Stir in sifted flours, spice and hazelnuts, in two batches.
2. 2
   Knead dough on floured surface until smooth. Roll dough between sheets of parchment paper until 1/4-inch thick. Refrigerate 30 mins.
3. 3
   Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease and line three baking pans with parchment paper.
4. 4
   Cut 24 each 1-inch stars, 2-inch stars and 2 3/4-inch stars from dough. Place small stars on one of the prepared pans. Place remaining stars, about 1 inch apart, on remaining 2 pans.
5. 5
   Bake small stars about 10 mins. Bake larger stars about 15 mins. Cool in pan 5 mins. Remove from pan; cool completely on wire rack.
6. 6
   Meanwhile, for the brandy buttercream, beat butter, orange peel, sifted powdered sugar and brandy in medium bowl with electric mixer until light and fluffy.
7. 7
   Sandwich two of each size cookie with buttercream. Assemble trees by joining three different size stars together with buttercream.
8. 8
   Decorate trees by adhering dragees to stars with a tiny dot of buttercream. Dust trees with additional sifted powdered sugar.