Cut-out Sugar Cookies

Ingredients

 * 2/3 cup butter Flavor Crisco
 * 3/4 cup Sugar
 * 1 tbsp milk PLUS 1 teaspoon milk
 * 1 tsp vanilla
 * 1  egg
 * 2 cup flour, all purpose
 * 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
 * 1/4 tsp salt

Directions
1 Preparation time: 15 minutes chill time: 2 hours bake time: 7-9 minutes cream butter flavor crisco, Sugar, milk and vanilla in large bowl at medium speed of electric mixer until well blended.

2 Beat in egg.

3 Combine flour, baking powder and salt.

4 Mix into creamed mixture.

5 Cover and refrigerate several hours to overnight.

6 Heat oven to 375°F.

7 Roll half the dough at a time to about 1/8 inch thickness on floured surface.

8 Cut in desired shapes.

9 Place 2 inches apart on ungreased baking sheet.

10 Sprinkle with colored Sugar and decors or leave plain to frost* when cool.

11 Bake at 375°F for 7 to 9 minutes.

12 Cool slightly.

13 Remove to cooling rack.

14 Makes 3 dozen cookies ( depending on size and shape ).

15 Variations for cut-out Sugar cookies lemon or orange cookie variation ~ add 1 teaspoon grated lemon or orange peel and 1 teaspoon lemon or orange extract to step *creamy vanilla frosting: combine ½ cup butter flavor crisco, 1 pound ( 4 cups ) confectioners Sugar, 1/3 cup milk and 1 teaspoon vanilla in medium bowl at low speed of electric mixer until well blended.

16 Scrape bowl.

17 Beat at high speed for 2 minutes, or until smooth and creamy.

18 Frost cooled cookies.

19 Note: frosting works well in decorating tube.

20 1 or 2 drops food color can be used to tint each cup of frosting, if desired.

21 lemon or orange frosting variation eliminate milk.

22 Add 1/3 cup lemon or orange juice.

23 Add 1 teaspoon orange peel with orange juice.