Granny's Cut out Cookies

My grandmother's recipe for amazing cut outs. It's a tricky dough, but worth it in the end. They taste amazing with a buttercream icing. DO NOT USE MARGARINE! I have found that using margarine or butter in place of shortening makes the dough even trickier to handle.

• Ready In: 2 hrs 6 mins
• Serves: 84
• Yields: 7 dozen

Ingredients

• 2  cups sugar
• 1 1⁄2 cups butter flavor shortening
• 4  eggs
• 1  cup buttermilk
• 1  teaspoon baking soda
• 4  teaspoons baking powder
• 2  teaspoons vanilla extract or 2 1⁄2 teaspoons  coconut extract
• 6  cups flour

Directions

1. Chill overnight.
2. Roll out to about 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick. You'll need plenty of flour on the surface to keep the dough from sticking.
3. Cut out cookies with your favorite cookie cutters.
4. Bake at 350 degrees for 5-6 minutes.