Swedish Angels Cookies

A favorite Christmas cookie recipe from the book The Joy of Cookies by Sharon Tyler Herbst.
– Terry

Ingredients

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon cream of tartar
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup shortening
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1 egg, room temperature
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar for topping

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350° F.
2. Grease 3 or 4 large cookie sheets.
3. In a medium bowl, combine flour, baking soda, cream of tartar and salt; set aside.
4. In a large bowl, beat shortening, butter and sugars until light and fluffy. Beat in egg and vanilla.
5. In a small bowl, place additional 1/2 cup of sugar. Fill a second small bowl with cool water. Roll teaspoons of dough into 1″ balls. Dip tops of ball first into water, then into sugar.
6. Arrange, sugar side up and 1″ apart, on prepared cookie sheets.
7. Use the bottom of a glass or decorative cookie press to flatten balls to 3/8″ thickness.
8. Bake 8 to 11 minutes, or until golden. Cool on racks.
9. Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week. Freeze for longer storage.

Makes 5 dozen cookies.