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These Cut Out Cookies are perfect soft and light white cookies that don’t spread or melt when they are cooked. These have a great balance of flavor – not too sweet, not too heavy.
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Family favorite recipe
These are my favorite sugar cut out cookies, and have been for years.
My family has all shared this recipe, and everyone loves it. It’s a family tradition now!
Cut Out Cookies for all occasions
Every year for Valentine’s Day my mom makes these cookies. Then she frosts them with Aunt Lois’ Frosting.(Later this week I’ll be sharing Aunt Lois’ Frosting in a post of its own.)
And she’s sweet enough to share these frosted cut out cookies with me.
You could also ice these cookies with Vegan Royal Icing.
I always love them!
This year, Valentine’s Day snuck up on her, and she never had a chance to make any. So, she made some for spring.
But, honestly, no one really needs an occasion to enjoy these delicious cut out cookies. They are always the right answer!
I took a picture of the spring cookies and a friend of mine asked for the recipe.
So, I figured it’s such a great recipe, I’d go ahead and post both the recipe for the cut out cookies and Aunt Lois’s Frosting.
This way I have it, can share it easily, and any family who may have lost it can get it again.
Handwritten recipes
I have a copy of a recipe card that my mom wrote out; I love these nostalgic recipe cards.
And I love how simple the instructions were. “Cream the shortening and sugar.” That’s how I learned to cook.
Cream the shortening and sugar
I rewrote this particular instruction on my printable recipe card below. I think there are many people who may not understand this instruction.
In fact, my mom tells a story of her Grandma who spoke broken English. When she read recipes that said to cream the butter and sugar., she would mix the shortening and sugar, and pour in a little cream. “Cream” the butter and sugar.
Maybe that’s where the cream in this recipe comes from.
Year-round cookies
These cut out cookies are great at Christmas, and they’re very traditional that way.
But don’t forget that they are great anytime of year.
Valentine’s Day. Easter. Mother’s Day. Summer holidays like 4th of July. Thanksgiving.
All you need is a cookie cutter that fits the occasion.
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Cut Out Cookies Recipe
Cut Out Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 cup shortening
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 tablespoon light cream
- 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
- ¾ teaspoon fine grain salt
Instructions
- Mix the shortening and sugar together until light and fluffy. Add the egg, vanilla, and cream. Mix well.
- Sift the flour, baking powder, and salt together into a medium bowl. Add the sifted dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, and mix well.
- Chill the dough a couple of hours.
- Preheat the oven to 375° F.
- Roll the dough out on a lightly floured board, and cut out with cookie cutters.
- Bake cookies for 8-10 minutes at 375° F.
- Remove cookies from the oven, and allow to cool completely before frosting.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information is based on third-party calculations, and should be considered estimates. Actual nutritional content will vary based on brands used, measuring methods, portion sizes, and more.
Michele
I have all of my grandma’s recipes written in her handwriting! It’s such a good memory when I use them! I love how these keep their shape so well! Mine never do that! Going to give these a try!
Sandra Shaffer
Sooo coool! Thank you for sharing a family recipe. I love those handwritten recipe cards too. I have some that I will never get rid of! These cookies are definitely meant to be enjoyed all year long.
eliza hud
I have literally been looking for the perfect cookie cutter recipe so i can use my new cookie cutters!! these are delicious! i think ill givve them to my mother-in-law! haha! thank so much. i appreciate you.