sugar cookies and frosting

Sunday I decided to make something "bad". SUGAR cookies. lil' andrew can't have milk so I just used dairy free butter and soy milk instead. They cooked very well and tasted normal! We frosted them to bring a little holiday joy in our lives...then I woke up this morning to a scale that was not so joyful...(just watch out for the dough...it's tastie)

COOKIES: Crisco Ultimate Sugar cookies

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 stick Crisco® Baking Sticks Butter Flavor All-Vegetable Shortening
• OR 1 cup Crisco® Butter Flavor All-Vegetable Shortening
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 large egg
• 2 tablespoons milk
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 3 cups Pillsbury BEST® All Purpose Flour
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• DECORATIONS
• Granulated sugar, colored sugar crystals, frosting or assorted candies

PREPARATION DIRECTIONS:

1. 1.
   BEAT shortening and sugar in large bowl, with an electric mixer at medium speed until smooth and creamy. Beat in egg, milk and vanilla until well blended.


2. 2.
   COMBINE flour, baking powder and salt in medium bowl. Gradually add flour mixture to shortening mixture at low speed until well blended. Wrap dough in plastic wrap; refrigerate 1 hour for easier handling.


3. 3.
   HEAT oven to 375ºF. Roll 1/3 of dough at a time on lightly floured surface to 1/8-inch thickness. Cut dough with 2 to 3-inch floured cookie cutters. Place 1 inch apart on ungreased cookie sheets. Sprinkle with sugar, if desired.


4. 4.
   BAKE 5 to 9 minutes or until edges begin to brown. Cool 2 minutes on baking sheet. Transfer cookies to cooling rack. Frost and decorate as desired.


5. VARIATION


6. 1.
   DROP COOKIE: Do not refrigerate dough. Drop by rounded measuring tablespoonsful of dough 2 inches apart on an ungreased baking sheet. Bake at 375ºF for 7 to 8 minutes.
   
   

FROSTING

• 4 cups confectioners' sugar
• 1/2 cup shortening
• 5 tablespoons milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• food coloring

Directions

1. In a large bowl, cream together the confectioners' sugar and shortening until smooth. Gradually mix in the milk and vanilla with an electric mixer until smooth and stiff, about 5 minutes. Color with food coloring if desired.