Best Ever Sugar Cookies

By ezunich

Ingredients

• 1/3 cup butter or margarine
• 1/3 cup shortening
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1 tsp baking powder
• Dash salt
• 1 egg
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• Small multicolored decorative candies (optional)

Preparation

Step 1

In a large mixing bowl beat butter and shortening with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds. Add sugar, baking powder, and salt. Beat till combined, scraping bowl. Beat in egg and vanilla. Beat in as much of the flour as you can with the mixer. Stir in the remaining flour. Divide dough in half. If necessary, cover and chill the dough for 3 hours or till easy to handle.

On a lightly floured surface, roll half of the dough at a time to 1/8 inch thick (1/4 inch thick if using 1 1/2-inch mini cookie cutters). Use cookie cutters to cut into desired shapes. Place on ungreased cookie sheet.

Bake in a 375° oven for 7 to 8 minutes (5 to 7 minutes for mini cookies) or till edges are firm and bottoms are very lightly browned. Cool the cookies on a wire rack.