Sugar Cookies

Sugar Cookies Recipe

Ingredients
Cookies:
1/3 cup butter, room temperature
1/3 cup shortening
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 egg
1 tablespoon milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
1 teaspoon finely grated orange rind
1 teaspoon finely grated lemon rind
2 cups all-purpose flour

Buttercream Frosting:
3/4 cup shortening
1/4 cup butter, room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 pounds powdered sugar
3 to 5 tablespoons milk, depending on consistency desired
Food coloring
Sanding sugars
Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 375F.
2. Place butter and shortening in a large mixing bowl. Beat with a mixer at medium-high speed 30 seconds. Add sugar, baking powder and salt. Beat until combined, scraping sides of bowl occasionally. Beat in egg, milk, extracts, and orange and lemon rinds until combined. Add flour, a little at a time, beating well after each addition. Using a wooden spoon, stir in any remaining flour. Divide dough in half. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate about 30 minutes or freeze for later use.
3. Roll one portion of dough on a lightly floured surface to 1/4 inch thick. Using a 41/2- to 6-inch cookie cutter, cut dough into desired shapes. Place 1 inch apart on an ungreased baking sheet.
4. Bake 8 to 9 minutes or until edges are firm and bottoms are very lightly browned. Transfer to a wire rack; cool. Repeat with remaining portion of dough. Makes about 2 dozen cookies.
5. To prepare frosting, combine shortening and butter in a mixing bowl. Beat with a mixer at medium speed until smooth and creamy. Add vanilla. Add powdered sugar, 2 cups at a time, alternating with 1 tablespoon milk until you achieve desired consistency. Add food coloring 1 drop at a time until desired tint is reached. When cookies are cooled, spread or pipe frosting on tops and decorate with sanding sugars. Freeze extra frosting for later use. Store cookies between layers of wax paper in an air-tight container.

Recipe by Whitney Kemp, "Cookie Class," Decemeber 2009.

Per cookie: 280 calories, 13g fat, 20mg chol., 1g prot., 40g carbs., 0g fiber, 85mg sodium.
Nutritional Information
Per cookie: 280 calories, 13g fat, 20mg chol., 1g prot., 40g carbs., 0g fiber, 85mg sodium.



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I wanted to try this receipe, but I don't know when to add the 1/3 cup of shortening. It is listed in the ingredients but not in the directions. Please let me know.
sue828
12/9/09 9:39 AM
I made this recipe and then realized I'd left out the shortening--because though it's listed in the ingredients, it isn't mentioned in the directions themselves. What a waste of time and money. I wish someone had bothered to proofread this recipe before publishing it.
missabby2002
12/12/09 12:30 AM

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