FROSTING:
1 stick butter (or margarine)
4 C. powdered sugar
1 t. vanilla
1/8 c. milk - then by teaspoon to make it the right consistency (not too thin, food coloring will thin it out)
Food coloring
* Mix butter, powdered sugar, vanilla, and milk with a mixer on low. Slowly add milk by teaspoon full until frosting is desired consistency. Remember that the frosting will be thinner after adding food coloring, so leave it a little thick. I divide the frosting into several bowls and mix food coloring for decorating the Christmas cookies.
THE SUGAR COOKIES:
2 1/4 cups flour
1/4 t. salt
2 t. baking powder
1/2 c. shortening
1 c. sugar
2 eggs - beaten
1/2 t. vanilla
1 T. milk
*Cream the shortening & sugar together.
*Add the eggs and vanilla
*Add the remaining ingredients.
Roll out onto a floured surfacel I like to leave the thicker than 1/4 inch so the cookies stay nice and soft. Use cookie cutters to cut out your favorite Christmas cookies and bake in a 350 degree oven for 8 to 10 minutes. DO NOT OVERCOOK! Your sugar cookies will look light when you take them out of the oven. If you wait for the edges to brown, they will be hard and nobody wants a cruncy sugar cookie.
Cook your cookies on a cooling rack, or even a large piece of foil on the counter. Decorate with frosting that you have in your bowls. Absolutely delicious and a family tradition.
