Chocolate Cut-Out Sugar Cookies

[kirra]

Chocolate Cut-Out Sugar Cookies

Ingredients:

Cookies:

2/3 cup shortening
1 1/4 cups sugar
2 eggs
1/2 cup baking cocoa, mixed with a small amount of water to make a paste
3 cups flour
3/4 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Decorator Frosting:

3/4 cup butter
4 1/2 cups powdered sugar, divided
3 tablespoons water
1 teaspoon flavored extract of choice (suggestions: vanilla, lemon, pepper-mint, coconut or almond)
Food coloring

Preparation:

Cookies:
Cream together shortening, sugar, eggs and cocoa until light and fluffy. Sift flour, salt and baking powder and add to creamed mixture. Mix in vanilla extract until smooth. Chill dough for several hours or overnight.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. On a floured surface, roll out a softball-sized piece of dough to a 1/4-inch thickness. Cut with cookie cutters and place on a greased or parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake for 8-10 minutes and cool on a rack.

Frosting:
With an electric mixer, beat butter in a medium bowl until smooth. Add 2 cups powdered sugar. Beat at medium speed until light and fluffy. Add water and extract, then beat on low speed until well blended, scraping down side of bowl once. Beat in an additional 2 1/2 cups powdered sugar until mixture is creamy. Color with food coloring. (If desired, separate frosting and use different colors.)

To decorate, place colored frosting in a piping bag fitted with a small writing tip or in resealable plastic freezer bags with one small corner cut off. Decorate as desired. Let cookies stand at room temperature until piping is set.