Christmas Tree Cutout Sugar Cookies

By mitzzy

Ingredients

• 1/3 cup butter, softened
• 1/3 cup shortening
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1/8 tsp salt
• 1 large egg
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2- 3 assorted colors of paste food coloring

Details

Servings 48

Preparation

Step 1

In a medium mixing bowl beat butter and shortening with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds. Add granulated sugar, baking powder, and salt. Beat until combined, scraping sides of bowl occasionally.
Beat in egg and vanilla until combined. Beat in as much
of the flour as you can with the mixer. Using a wooden spoon, stir
in any remaining flour.

Divide dough into portions, tinting each portion of dough with a
different color of food coloring. Knead coloring into dough until
well mixed. Cover and chill about 1 hour or until dough is easy
to handle.

On a lightly floured surface, roll a portion of the dough at a time
to 1/8-inch thickness. Using a 2-1/2-inch cookie cutter, cut dough
into desired shapes. (For 5-1/4-inch cookies, roll dough to 1/4-inch
thickness.) Place cutouts on an un-greased cookie sheet. Refrigerate
cutouts for 15 minutes. Using small cookie cutters, make smaller
cutouts and fill each opening with another color of dough.

Bake in a 375 degree F oven for 7 to 8 minutes for smaller cookies
or about 10 minutes for larger cookies or until edges are firm and
bottoms are very lightly browned. Cool on cookie sheet for 1 minute.
Transfer cookies to a wire rack; cool.