dora's christmas cookies

Ingredients

• Servings: 5
• 2 cups white sugar
• 1 cup shortening
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon almond extract
• 2 eggs
• 6 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup milk

Recipe

• preheat oven to 350 degrees f (180 degrees c).
• mix together sugar, shortening or margarine, vanilla extract and almond extract cream these together until light. add eggs and beat well.
• combine flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt ( use 1/2 teas. if using margarine). add to sugar mixture alternately with milk, ending with flour mixture. dough will be quite stiff and may require mixing the last bit of flour in by hand.
• roll out portions of dough on floured board and cut with your favorite cookie cutters.
• place on greased cookie sheets and bake for 10 to 12 minutes . test for doneness by touching lightly with your finger. if there is no dent, they're done. cool and frost, decorate with colored sugars and colored frosting..
• note: if you like crisp cookies, roll the dough thinner. for more cake-like dough roll thicker and use metal cookie cutters. originally we used anise oil to flavor the dough (5 to 6 drops) in place of the vanilla and almond extracts. but my children prefer the extracts.