Celestial Sugar Cookies

I just made these for my mother's annual Christmas Cookie Exchange - they turned out great and so seasonal if you put green and red sugar on top - perfect for the holiday! Recipe came from Colorado Colore: A Palate of Tastes - cooking time does not include hour to chill . . .

• Ready In: 20 mins
• Yields: 4-5 dozen cookies

Ingredients

• 4 1⁄4 cups flour
• 1  teaspoon baking soda
• 1  teaspoon cream of tartar
• 1  teaspoon salt
• 1  cup butter, softened
• 1  cup  vegetable oil
• 1  cup sugar
• 1  cup confectioners' sugar
• 2  eggs
• 1  teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

1. Sift flour, baking soda, cream of tartar and salt together.
2. Beat butter, oil, sugar and confectioner's sugar in separate mixing bowl until creamy.
3. Add eggs and vanilla and beat until smooth.
4. Add dry ingredients gradually and beat until well blended.
5. Chill, covered for 1 hour.
6. Shape dough into 1 inch balls and coat balls with additional sugar.
7. Arrange balls on ungreased cookie sheet.
8. Flatten with bottom of glass dipped in sugar. Press in additional color sugar for holiday decoration.
9. Bake at 350 degrees for 8-10 minutes or until lightly brown.
10. Cool and store in airtight container.
11. For variations: Add 1 tsp of almond extract or lemon extract, add 1/2 crushed almonds or hazelnuts, add 1 TBS finely chopped lemon zest, add 1 TBS crushed peppermint candies, roll in colored sugar for holidays, or use decorative glass to create pattern on each cookie.