My family has used this recipe since I was a small child. I've reduced the amount of sugar that the original recipe called for. The cookie gets plenty of sweetness from the frosting. For the swap, I decorated some of the cookies and then I made packs of plain cookies, icing and sprinkles so that each family can have fun decorating at home. I also used the colored dough in the middle of the plain dough to make two-toned cookies, and I think this makes them adorable.
Ingredients
Cookies:
- 3/4 cup shortening
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- Food coloring
Frosting:
- 2/3 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 2 2/3 cups confectioners' sugar
- 2 to 3 tablespoons milk
- 3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Food coloring
Directions
For cookies:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
In a mixer, beat shortening until soft. Add sugar, baking powder, and salt. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Gradually mix in the flour. Remove half of the dough, leaving the remaining in the mixer. Add a couple of drops of food coloring to the dough in the mixer, until the desired color is achieved and beat until combined. Form each half of the dough into disks and wrap in plastic film. Chill in the refrigerator until firm, at least 1 hour.
Roll the dough out to 1/4-inch thickness and cut out cookies with cookie cutters. Transfer to an ungreased cookie sheet and bake until firm, about 6 to 8 minutes. Cool on wire racks.
For frosting:
In a mixer, beat butter, sugar, milk, and vanilla until smooth. If frosting is too thick, add more milk, a very small amount at a time. Divide frosting into several small bowls. Add a different color of food coloring to the frosting in each bowl. Glaze each cookie with a different color frosting.
A viewer, who may not be a professional cook, provided this recipe. The FN chefs have not tested this recipe and therefore, we cannot make representation as to the results.
* Guest Recipe
A viewer or guest of the show, who may not be a professional cook, provided this recipe. The Food Network Kitchens have not tested this recipe and therefore cannot make representation as to the results.















Review This Recipe
You must be logged in to review this recipe.
or Sign Up to Review
Newest Ratings and Reviews
Read all 14 reviews
By jsobeck
on December 17, 2011
Flag
Flag This Review?
Please provide the reason why you think this review is inappropriate.
or Cancel
Baker Beware. The cookies were terrible - dry with no flavor. We thought the frosting might save them, but it just made them worse. In the end, they ended up in the garbage and the only way to get the taste out of our mouths was to drink a cocktail. Waste of time and waste of sugar. I'd give it zero stars if I could.
By texasemh
on December 22, 2010
Flag
Flag This Review?
Please provide the reason why you think this review is inappropriate.
or Cancel
I did not try the cookies because of others reviews, but made the icing. i needed to add more powdered sugar, and i also added a few drops of peppermint flavoring. it adds just a bit of flavor and is great for the holadays.
By mdl_pr_7190420
Toronto, NE
on February 07, 2007
Flag
Flag This Review?
Please provide the reason why you think this review is inappropriate.
or Cancel
Sorry but waiting an hour for the dough to come together does not suit my schedule. The cookies are not special enough to demand that kind of time and attention. I tried putting the dough in the freezer for 20 mins but it went too gooey when I tried to roll it out. A plain sugar cookie recipe works much better.
Read all 14 reviews