Christmas Light Cookies

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter or margarine, softened  
1/2 cup granulated sugar  
1 large egg  
1 teaspoon vanilla extract  
1/2 teaspoon grated lemon peel  
2 cups all-purpose flour  
5 cups confectioners' sugar  
1/2 cup milk  
Red, yellow, blue and green paste food coloring  
Licorice lace (optional) 

1. In a large bowl, using an electric mixer set on medium speed, 
beat butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in egg, 
vanilla and lemon peel. On low speed, gradually beat in flour until blended.
 Shape dough into a disk; wrap in plastic wrap. Chill for 1 hour. 

2. Preheat oven to 350F. Lightly grease 2 baking sheets. On a floured 
surface, using a floured rolling pin, roll dough out to a 1/8-inch thickness. 
Using a Christmas light template, cut out cookies. Place cookies, 1 inch 
apart, on prepared baking sheets. Make a hole in the square end of each 
cookie with a straw. 

3. Bake cookies, in batches, until golden, about 5-8 minutes. Transfer 
cookies to wire racks; cool completely. 

4. For the icing, beat together confectioners' sugar and milk until smooth. 
Remove 1/2 cup of icing and set aside. Divide remaining icing evenly 
among 4 small bowls. Add food coloring to each bowl to make desired 
colors. 

5. Spread different colored icings on bulb section of cookies. Let stand 
until set. Fill pastry bag with a small round tip with reserved icing; pipe 
white icing "threads" on the square end of cookies. Let stand until set. 
Thread licorice through holes of cookies, if desired.