Sugar Cookies With Buttercream Frosting

Ingredients

Sugar Cookies

• 1/2 cup shortening
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 cups flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 3 tablespoons milk

Buttercream Frosting

• 1/3 cup butter or margarine, softened
• 3 cups confectioners' sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
• 2 tablespoons milk

Directions

1. 1

   Cream together shortening, egg, vanilla and sugar.

2. 2

   In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder and salt. Add the flour mixture to the creamed mixture in three phases, alternating with the three tablespoons of milk.

3. 3

   Chill in the refrigerator for at least 20 minutes. At this point the dough can be kept overnight in the fridge or for several months in the freezer.

4. 4

   Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Flour a smooth surface, and roll the dough to 1/4 inch, working with about half the dough at a time. Put the remaining dough in the fridge to stay chilled. Cut out the cookies with cookie cutters of your choice.

5. 5

   Place cut-out cookies on a cookie sheet, and bake for 8-10 minutes.

6. 6

   Allow cookies to cool before decorating with frosting.

7. 7

   Buttercream Frosting: Cream softened butter and sugar. Beat in vanilla and milk, adding milk by teaspoons and beating until frosting is smooth and of desired spreading consistency.