Recipe: Cut-Out Sugar Cookies, Aunt Charlotte's Christmas Cookies, and Cookie Jar Sugar

CUT-OUT SUGAR COOKIES

1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened
1/2 cup shortening
2 cups sugar
3 eggs
5 cups flour
1 1/2 tsp. cream of tartar
1 1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
2 tbsp. milk
2 tsp. vanilla
2 tsp. almond extract
1 or 2 tbsp. orange juice (optional)
1 to 2 tsp. grated orange rind

Cream the butter, shortening and sugar; add eggs and beat well.

Sift together flour, cream of tartar, baking soda, and salt; set aside.

Combine milk, vanilla, almond extract, and orange juice and add alternately with dry ingredients to the creamed mixture. Add orange rind. Chill.

WHEN READY TO BAKE:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Grease a cookie sheet.

Roll out dough on lightly floured surface. Cut into desired shapes. Place on prepared cookie sheet.

Bake at 400 degrees F for 8 to 15 minutes (time depends on how thick you roll the dough). These expand when baking, so leave enough room. Cookies are done when golden brown at edges. Remove to racks to cool.

Note: 400 degrees may be too hot for some ovens; if cookies are too well done, lower heat to 350 degrees and bake 7 to 9 minutes.

Yield will depend on thickness of cookies
Adapted from unknown source

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AUNT CHARLOTTE'S CHRISTMAS COOKIES

2 cups sugar
1 cup butter, softened
3 eggs, well beaten
1 tsp. vanilla
1 tsp. lemon extract
1 tsp. grated orange rind
4 cups flour (sift before measuring)
2 tsp. baking powder
1/3 tsp. salt
FOR TOPPING:
1 egg, slightly beaten
colored sugars

Cream together sugar and butter. Add eggs and beat well. Stir in vanilla, lemon extract, and orange rind; set aside.

Combine flour, baking powder, and salt. Stir into creamed mixture. Mix well. Put in refrigerator overnight.

WHEN READY TO BAKE:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Lightly grease a cookie sheets.

Take out a small portion of dough at a time and roll thin on a slightly floured pastry board. Cut out with cookie cutters and place on prepared cookie sheets. Dab cookies with slightly beaten egg and decorate with colored sugars. Be careful not to get sugar on baking sheet.

Bake at 375 degrees until light brown (usually 6-8 minutes depending on oven); do not overbake.

Adapted from unknown source

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COOKIE JAR SUGAR COOKIES

3/4 cup shortening
3/4 cup sugar
1 egg
1/2 tsp. vanilla
1/2 tsp. grated orange peel
2 cups sifted flour
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
4 tsp. milk

Thoroughly cream shortening and sugar. Add egg, beat until mixture is light and fluffy. Add vanilla, grated orange peel; mix thoroughly.

Sift dry ingredients; stir into creamed mixture together with milk. Divide dough in half. Chill 1 hour so it's easy to handle.

WHEN READY TO BAKE:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Lightly grease a cookie sheets.

Roll out one half, keeping the other chilled until you're ready to roll it. Roll dough 1/8 inch thick. Cut; put on prepared cookie sheet; sprinkle lightly with sugar.

Bake in 375 degree oven for 12 minutes.

Makes 2 dozen
Adapted from unknown source

Hi Kathy,

I don't know if these recipes were originally from Betty Crocker, but thought you might want to give them a try while you're waiting for a response.

Happy Baking!

Betsy