Directions:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Prep your baking sheets by lining with parchment paper - set aside.
• In the bowl of a stand mixer, cream together the softened butter and sugar.
• Add in the egg and vanilla. Combine well - scraping the sides and mixing again.
• Add in all of the flour and switch out the whisk attachment on the mixer for the paddle attachment. Mix on low speed until all the flour is combined and the dough pulls away from the side of the bowl.
• Divide the dough equally between three small bowls. Tint with food coloring - starting with just a little and adding more if needed. Knead until smooth and cohesive in color.
• Pinch a small about from each color and gently press together to form a ball about the size of a golf ball and then flatten to about ⅜ of an inch thick. Place on prepared baking sheets and repeat until the dough is gone.
• Bake in preheated oven for 12 minutes. The edges should be set and very slightly starting to brown. It does not take much to overbake these at which point, they will be hard and dry. We want them just right with a soft bite! Allow to cool completely before decorating.
• When ready to decorate, melt the chocolate and transfer to a piping bag or ziploc. Cut a small hole in the tip. Trace the seams of the colors and criss-cross the lines to look like stitches.
• Allow the chocolate to cool and solidify. Serve and enjoy!