Ingredients
- 4 c. flour
- 3 tsp. baking powder
- 1 tsp. salt
- 1 c. shortening
- 2 c. sugar
- 2 eggs
- 2 tsp. vanilla
- 2 tbl. milk
- Decorator sugar
Preparation
Step 1
Sift dry ingredients together and set aside.
In a mixing bowl, cream shortening until soft. Beat in sugar, eggs, vanilla and milk. Mix in flour mixture gradually until dough is stiff enough to roll. Chill at least 30 minutes.
Sprinkle flour on a clean dry roomy surface and on the rolling pin. Roll the dough out to about 1/4" thick, moving the dough around once or twice so it doesn't stick to the surface. Cut with Christmas cookie cutters. Using a narrow spatula, place the cookies on ungreased baking sheets. Sprinkle with colored sugar or any other decorations.
Bake at 375 for 8-10 minutes, until cookies are just starting to brown around the edges. Let set for 1 minute, then remove to cool.
Combine dough that is left over from each cut and reroll to make more cookies. You may need to refrigerate the dough if it becomes too warm.
It is best if the dough is mixed and baked the same day. The dough dries out if left in the refrigerator too long.