The Ultimate Sugar Cookies

This recipe is from high school home economics. We used to sell these cookies frosted for Valentine's Day. It makes a darn good cookie. Feel free to use butter or margarine in place of shortening.

• Ready In: 1 hr 9 mins
• Serves: 10-12

Ingredients

• 1 1⁄4 cups sugar
• 1  cup butter flavor shortening
• 2  eggs
• 1⁄4 cup light corn syrup or 1⁄4 cup  pancake syrup
• 1  tablespoon vanilla
• 3  cups all-purpose flour
• 3⁄4 teaspoon baking powder
• 1⁄2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1⁄2 teaspoon salt

Directions

1. Heat oven to 375.
2. Combine sugar and shortening in large bowl.
3. Beat at medium speed of electric mixer until well blended.
4. Add eggs, syrup, and vanilla and beat well.
5. Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Add gradually to creamed mixture at low speed.
6. Mix until well blended.
7. Divide dough into quarters.
8. Refrigerate 1 hour.
9. Keep refrigerated until ready to roll.
10. Spread 1 tablespoon of flour on large sheet of waxed paper.
11. Flatten dough slightly, turn over, and cover with another sheet of waxed paper.
12. Roll dough into 1/4 inch thickness.
13. Cut out with floured cutter.
14. Transfer to ungreased baking sheet, 2 inches apart.
15. Sprinkle with decors or leave plain to frost when cooled.
16. Bake for 5 to 9 minutes (bake smaller, thinner cutouts closer 5 minutes and larger cutouts closer to 9 minutes).
17. Cool 2 minutes on baking sheet.
18. Remove to counter, cool, and frost if desired.