Sit down, Pillsbury!

My grandma's cutouts are always my favorite Christmas cookie. So much so that she's begun calling them 'Lillie's cookies'; and this Christmas, though she was very sick, she traveled all the way to Michigan just to deliver them to me. A little much, but I can't say I didn't eat...all of them.

She makes cutouts not with sugar cookie dough, but with shortbread dough. It makes for a flakier, butterier cookie, which contrasts well with the smoothness of the frosting.
They probably translate well to Valentine's day cookies, too.


Shortbread Cutouts

3/4 c. butter
1/4 c. sugar (both granulated and powdered work well here. Let me get back to you about differences?)
2 c. flour

Cream butter and sugar. Add flour. Refrigerate. Roll out to 1/4-inch thick, cut out. Bake for 8-10 minutes, or just until set, at 350 degrees.
Let cool, and frost with:


Frosting

I don't have the specifics here, but this is whatchu need:

-butter: cold, but not very cold. A stick will do for a batch of cookies.
-powdered sugar: more than you would think - just have about 2 cups on hand if you're making a bunch of frosting.
-vanilla: key. Just a little drop'll do ya.
-milk: only really necessary for spreadability, here. Smooths things out nicely, but not crucial. Add only the teensiest bit. It gets out of hand quickly.

and this is whatchu do:

-mix butter and p. sugar. Do this by smoothing butter into sugar (vice versa?); use a spoon and press the butter against the side of the bowl you're working with. It takes a minute to start mixing, but you'll see results and be happy. Once they're smoothly mixed, taste it. Does it taste buttery still? Add more sugar. With the right taste, add a bit of vanilla, and milk if you wanna.
Badabing Badaboom!
Refrigerate this stuff. Let it come almost to room temp before you frost anything, though.



Add a little pink food coloring to the frosting, and frost these puppies, my personal favorite Valentine's day cook-cooks:


Oatmeal Cutouts

2/3 c. shortening
3/4 c. sugar
1 egg
1 T milk (I used water when I made them at the dorm. it worked. Mom? Is this okay?)
1 t. vanilla
1 3/4 c. flour
1 t. baking powder
1/2 t. salt
3/4 c. oats

Cream shortening and sugar. Blend in egg, milk, and vanilla. Add dry ingredients to the mixture. Stir in oats. Chill several hours.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Roll out to about 1/4 inch, and cut out (hearts, preferably). Bake for 10 minutes, or until just golden on the edges. Let cool, then frost.
Makes 3 dizzle.


-Lillie