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In a large mixing bowl beat butter and shortening with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds.
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2
Add sugar, baking powder, and salt.
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3
Beat until combined, scraping sides of bowl occasionally.
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4
Beat in egg, milk, and vanilla until combined.
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5
Beat in as much of the flour you can with the mixer.
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6
Stir in andy remaining flour.
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7
Cover and chill dough about 3 hours or until easy to handle.
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8
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
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9
On a lightly floured surface, roll dough until 1/8 inch thick.
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10
Using desired-shape cookie cutters, cut out dough (see instructions below).
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11
Place cutouts 1 inch apart on an ungreased cookie sheet.
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12
Paint with Egg Paint as directed below.
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13
Bake for 7 to 8 minutes or until the bottoms are light brown.
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14
Let stand for 1 minute on cookie sheet.
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15
Transfer to a wire rack and let cool.
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16
Decorate with Snow Frosting, Powdered Sugar Icing, and/or decorative candies as desired.
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Let stand until set.
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For Diamond Santas: Using a 2-1/2- to 3-1/2-inch diamond-shape cookie cutter, cut out dough.
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For smooth, red caps, brush red-tinted Egg Paint on cap areas before baking cookies.
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For more textured caps, pipe red-tinted Snow Frosting from a decorating bag fitted with a medium star tip in the cap area of baked cookies.
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Pipe white Snow Frosting for the hatband, mustache, and beard.
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For fine details, pipe Powdered Sugar Icing from a decorating bag fitted with a writing tip.
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23
For Half-Moon Santas: Using a 2 1/2-inch half-moon cookie cutter cut out dough.
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24
For smooth, red caps, brush red-tinted Egg Paint on cap areas before baking cookies.
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25
Use Powdered Sugar Icing to frost the beard, then sprinkle with plain sanding sugar.
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26
Attach candy for eyes and noses with small dabs of frosting.
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27
Triangle Santas: Using a 3-inch triangle-shape cookie cutter, cut out dough.
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28
Paint coat area with red-tinted Egg Paint before baking.
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29
Pipe Snow Frosting from a decorating bag fitted with a star tip where a textured look is desired.
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30
For fine details, pipe Powdered Sugar Icing from a decorating bag fitted with a writing tip.
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31
Star Santas: Using a 4-inch star-shape cookie cutter, cut out dough.
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32
Paint the coat and hat areas with red-tinted Egg Paint before baking.
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33
Pipe Snow Frosting from a decorating bag fitted with a star tip where a textured look is desired.
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34
For fine details, pipe Powdered Sugar Icing from a decorating bag fitted with a writing tip.
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35
Use dabs of frosting to attach decorative candies for the buttons and noses.
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36
Egg Paint: In a small bowl stir together 1 egg yolk and 2 drops water.
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Stir in paste food coloring to make a paint of desired color.
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Brush paint on cookies before baking so the egg mixture cooks fully.
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39
Snow Frosting: In a small mixing bowl beat 1/2 cup shortening and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla with an electric mixer on medium speed for 30 seconds.
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40
Gradually beat in 1 1/3 cups sifted powdered sugar until smooth.
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41
Beat in 1 tablespoon milk.
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42
Gradually beat in 1 cup powdered sugar and enough milk (3 to 4 teaspoons) to make a frosting of piping consistency.
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43
Tint frosting as desired with paste food coloring.
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44
Powdered Sugar Icing: In a medium bowl stir together 4 cups powdered sugar, 1 teaspoon vanilla, and enough milk (3 to 4 tablespoons) to make an icing of drizzling consistency.
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45
Tint icing as desired with paste food coloring.
