My Favorite Sugar Cookies

This sugar cookie recipe is great for Christmas cut-out cookies.

Original recipe makes 6 dozen

Ingredients

3 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups white sugar
2/3 cup shortening
2 eggs
2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
2 tablespoons milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup egg white

Directions

Mix first 8 ingredients in a large bowl at medium speed until well mixed.
Shape dough into a ball and wrap with waxed paper. Refrigerate 2 to 3 hours until easy to handle.
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Lightly grease cookie sheets.
Roll out half of the dough at a time on a lightly floured surface. Keep the remaining dough refrigerated. For crisp cookies, roll paper thin. For softer cookies, roll 1/8 to 1/4 inch thick.
With floured cookie cutters, cut dough into various shapes. Re-roll dough trimmings and continue to cut shapes.
Place cookies 1/2 inch apart on greased cookie sheets. To glaze, brush tops of cookies with heavy or whipping cream or with an egg white slightly beaten with 1 tablespoon of water.
Sprinkle cookies with your choice of toppings; bake 8 minutes or until very light brown. Remove cookies and cool completely.