Sugar Cookies

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Line cookie sheets with parchment paper; set aside.
2. In a large bowl, beat together shortening and sugar with an electric mixer. Add eggs, milk, and vanilla; beat well.
3. In a medium bowl, stir together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Add to shortening mixture and beat until well combined.
4. Dust work surface with powdered sugar. Roll dough to 1⁄8-inch thickness. Using 2½ to 3-inch cookie cutters,cut dough and place cutouts on prepared cookie sheets.
5. Bake for 9 to 11 minutes or until bottoms just begin to brown. Remove cookies to a wire rack to cool. Frost with Sugar Cookie Frosting.

Decorative Round Sugar Cookies: Before white frosting sets, pipe curved lines of colored frosting horizontally on top, then drag a toothpick vertically through the frosting.

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Church-Shape Sugar Cookies: Cut dough using a church-shape cookie cutter. Frost cookies, then pipe additional white frosting for steeples, doors, and windows; sprinkle with white decorating sugar for snow.

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Sugar Cookie Frosting

1. In a medium bowl, beat together all ingredients with an electric mixer. Spread frosting on cookies and, if desired, top with decorating sugars.

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