Cut-Out SUGAR COOKIES These classic holiday cookies are thick, soft and delicious.

Cut-Out SUGAR COOKIES These classic holiday cookies are thick, soft and delicious.

1 cup butter 1 cup butter flavored shortening 2 cups sugar 2 tsp vanilla extract 1 tsp almond extract 3 eggs 4 tsp baking powder 1 tsp salt 6 cups flour

optional frosting: 1 cup shortening 1 tsp vanilla extract 1 tsp almond extract 1 large bag (2 lbs) powdered sugar 1/2 cup heavy cream or whole milk food coloring, if desired

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cream together the butter and shortening until light and fluffy. Add in the sugar and continue to mix until smooth. Beat in the extracts and eggs. In a separate bowl, mix together the baking powder, salt and flour. Add 1/3 of this in with the wet ingredients. Mix in the rest of the dry ingredients until you have a stiff dough. If dough becomes too stiff, wet your hands and knead it on a floured surface. Divide the dough into workable batches and roll out to 1/4” thickness on a floured surface. Cut, place on an ungreased cookie sheet and bake for 8 minutes. Let cookies cool for a few minutes on the cookie sheet before transferring to a wire rack. Makes about 36 large, soft cookies.