Norwegian Butter Cookies (Spritz)

According to my dad, after many other recipies were tested, this is the closest to his grandmother's Norwegian Butter Cookie recipe that he remembers from every Christmas growing up. His family is from the Chicago area, with a very large Norwegian/Swedish population.This recipe is adapted from Gourmet magazine. Many use a cookie press when doing this; dad said Greatgrandma always rolled the cookies into balls and flattened them with the bottom of a jelly glass, then decorated with colored sugars, so that's what I do. Sometimes I cross-hatch with a fork to better hold the sugar.

• Ready In: 30 mins
• Serves: 72
• Yields: 6 dozen

Ingredients

• 1 1⁄2 cups butter, softened (3 sticks)
• 1  cup sugar (we've used Splenda with good results, too)
• 1 1⁄2 teaspoons vanilla
• 1⁄2 teaspoon  almond extract
• 1  large egg, lightly beaten
• 4  cups all-purpose flour
• 1⁄2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1⁄2 teaspoon salt
•  colored sugar sprinkle (for decorating)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F In a large bowl cream the butter, beat in the sugar, a little at a time, the vanilla, and the almond extract, and beat the mixture until it is light and fluffy.
2. Add the egg and combine the mixture well.
3. Add the flour mixture and combine the dough well.
4. Form the dough into walnut-size balls and arrange the balls 3 inches apart on ungreased baking sheets. Either flatten with the bottom of a glass or take a fork and using the back flatten the balls to approximately 1/2 inch to 1/3 inch thick, making a crosshatch design (like you see on peanut butter cookies). Sprinkle with colored sugar.
5. Bake for 10 to 15 minutes, or until they are barely golden around the edges, and transfer them with a spatula to racks to cool. Store the cookies in airtight containers.