Amanda's Sugar Cookie Recipe

Because I love you, Gentle Reader, I am posting this amazing sugar cookie recipe (that, and I'm not one of those email organizers, so it's bound to get lost in my vast email account). It is easy, makes lots of cookies, is EASY to roll out and most importantly, it's delicious. This is a soft cookie (think along the lines of those Lofthouse cookies, but not quite as dry), so if you prefer a harder sugar cookie, this is not for you. Thank you, Amanda, for this delectable treat. (I put the butter cream frosting recipe I used after it. We like it, but everyone has different frosting tastes). Happy Sugar Cookie-ing!

Amanda's Sugar Cookies

1 C sugar
½ C shortening
2 eggs
1 C sour cream
1 tsp vanilla
4 ¼ -4 ½ C flour
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp soda
1 tsp salt

Cream sugar and shortening. Add sour cream, eggs, and vanilla. Mix. Add dry ingredients. Mix well. Add additional flour until dough no longer sticks to sides of bowl. Refrigerate (optional). Roll out dough to approximate ¼” thickness and cut out cookies (Miss L's note: I rolled the dough out on parchment paper, cut the shapes, removed excess dough and put the parchment paper w/dough shapes on the cookie sheet. This way, you can just move the paper off and put the next batch on, even if the cookie sheet is still warm). Bake on ungreased cookie sheet at 375° until set, not browned—approximately 7-8 minutes. Cool.

Amanda's note: *I always make these a day in advance. They get moist and delicious that way. They also freeze and thaw very well.

Miss L's note: I conducted an experiment and let them sit overnight, uncovered. Very good. Even the next day uncovered, they were seriously good.

Decorator Frosting (from Allrecipes.com):

2/3 cup butter, softened
4 cups confectioners' sugar
2 tablespoons milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
4 drops desired food coloring (optional)

DIRECTIONS
In a medium bowl, cream together the butter, confectioners' sugar, and milk until light and fluffy, about 3 to 4 minutes (Miss L's notes: I needed more than 2 Tbsp of milk to make it spreadable). Beat in the vanilla and food coloring. Spread on or between cookies.