TENDER ITALIAN SUGAR COOKIES

Tender Italian Sugar Cookies image

These traditional Italian cookies are moist and tender. -Weda Mosellie, Phillipsburg, New Jersey

Provided by Taste of Home

Time 30m

Yield 3 dozen.

Number Of Ingredients 13

Ingredients

3/4 cup shortening
3/4 cup sugar
3 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 cups all-purpose flour
3 teaspoons baking powder
1/8 teaspoon salt
ICING:
1/4 cup milk
2 tablespoons butter, melted
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
2-1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
Food coloring and coarse sugar, optional

Steps:

Preheat oven to 400°. In a large bowl, cream shortening and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Combine flour, baking powder and salt; gradually add to creamed mixture and mix well. , Shape dough into 1-1/2-in. balls. Place 1 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets. Bake 8-10 minutes or until lightly browned. Remove to wire racks to cool., For icing, in a small bowl, combine milk, butter, vanilla and confectioners' sugar until smooth. Tint with food coloring if desired. Dip tops of cookies in icing; allow excess to drip off. Sprinkle with coarse sugar if desired. Place on waxed paper; let stand until set.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 136 calories, Fat 5g fat (2g saturated fat), Cholesterol 20mg cholesterol, Sodium 54mg sodium, Carbohydrate 21g carbohydrate (12g sugars, Fiber 0 fiber), Protein 2g protein.