Recipe Talk

Originally from Canadian Living Magazine.
The recipe was called "Sugar Cookie People"
It is a large recipe and my family favorite. I've
misplaced it.

This may not be the recipe but maybe it could become a new family favorite. Double the recipe for more 'people'.

DELUXE SUGAR PEOPLE

1 1/2 c. powdered sugar
1 c. butter, softened
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 tsp. almond extract
2 1/2 c. all-purpose flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. cream of tartar

Mix powdered sugar, butter, egg, vanilla and almond extract. Stir in flour, baking soda and cream of tartar. Cover and refrigerate at least 3 hours.
Heat oven to 375 degrees. Divide dough into halves. Roll each half 3/16 inch thick on lightly floured cloth-covered board. Cut into gingerbread shapes with cookie cutters. Place on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake until edges are light brown. Frost and decorate as desired. About 2 1/2 dozen sugar people.

I make all kinds of cookies at Christmas time, so I keep a collection of the ones I like for taste/texture and the ones that hold up well for cookie molds/cutters.

Which are you looking for?

I have another recipe that was my grandma's. It's really tastey and soft, but expands too much to get exact shapes for professional decorating. This one is especially good for cookie cutters because they hold shape and stay snapping firm.

Sugar Cookies
(from Ladies Home Journal, December 1998)

11/2 c flour
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup shortening
1 Tbsp milk
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp vanilla
1/4 tsp salt
1 egg

Into small bowl, measure all ingredients. With a mixer at low speed, beat ingredients until well mixed, occasionally scraping bowl with rubber spatula. Shape dough into a ball; wrap with plastic wrap. Refrigerate dough 2 to 3 hours until easy to handle.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. On lightly floured surface with lightly floured rolling pin, roll half of dough 1/8 inch thick, keeping remaining dough refrigerated. Using desired pattern, cut out cookies. Reroll trimmings and cut additional cookies. With pancake turner, place cookies on greased cookie sheets 1 inch apart. Bake cookies 6 to 8 minutes until very lightly browned. With pancake turner, immediately remove cookies to wire racks to cool completely. Let dry until firm, about 1 hour. Stor in tightly covered container. Makes about 21/2 dozen.