Sugar Cookies

I have my sister-in-law, Julie to thank for this recipe. Her Christmas cookies were the first I'd ever seen with such meticulous decorating. It takes a little practice, but with the right frosting consistency, you can whip these out with experience. It took me about an hour to decorate about 5 dozen cookies. I made these for Wiley's Halloween party at school.

Basic Sugar Cookie Recipe:

3/4 C shortening (at least part butter)
1 C sugar
2 eggs
1 t vanilla
2 1/2 C flour
1 t baking powder
1 t salt

Preheat oven to 400F.
Mix well shortening, sugar, eggs and flavoring. Blend dry ingredients; Stir together. Roll 1/8" thick on floured surface and cut with cookie cutters. Bake on ungreased cookie sheet for 6-8 minutes.

Frosting

1/4 C softened butter
1/2 t salt
2 t vanilla
3 C powdered sugar
1/4 C milk

Combine butter, salt, vanilla and 1 C sugar. Add remaining sugar and milk alternately. Mix until smooth and creamy. Drop in food coloring.

note: I often double both recipes and they turn out fine.