Soft Sugar Cookies

My husband has been craving some sugar cookies, so I found a recipe online for "soft" sugar cookies, because I don't like the flat hard ones.

I came across a pretty good recipe that didn't disappoint.  Here is where I found the recipe: AllRecipes.com

Ingredients

• 2/3 cup shortening
• 2/3 cup butter
• 1 1/2 cups white sugar
• 2 eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/3 cup granulated sugar for decoration

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2. In a medium bowl, cream together the butter, shortening and sugar. Stir in the eggs and vanilla. Combine the flour, baking powder and salt, stir into the creamed mixture until dough comes together. Roll dough into walnut sized balls and roll the balls in sugar. Place them on an unprepared cookie sheet about 2 inches apart.
3. Bake cookies 10 to 12 minutes in the preheated oven, until bottom is light brown. Remove from baking sheets to cool on wire racks.

We also needed some frosting, as it is Sunday and we couldn't go out and buy some.  So I found another recipe online that is super easy.  Now, it's not necessarily my favorite frosting, but it would be great to make for little kids as it is so easy and we had fun coloring it.  Here is where I found the frosting recipe: AllRecipes.com

Ingredients

• 4 cups confectioners' sugar
• 1/2 cup shortening
• 5 tablespoons milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• food coloring

Directions

1. In a large bowl, cream together the confectioners' sugar and shortening until smooth. Gradually mix in the milk and vanilla with an electric mixer until smooth and stiff, about 5 minutes. Color with food coloring if desired.