Creepy cookies

One great way to satisfy the kids’ sweet cravings and let them have fun, too, is to get them in on the making! With this sugar cookie recipe, you can let the kids do as much or as little of the baking as you wish, then set up cookie-decorating stations with tubes of icing, sprinkles, and any other sugary bits that come to mind. This time of year, Halloween-themed cookie cutter sets are everywhere, so make a few batches of ghosts, bats, pumpkins and black cats.

Ingredients

1 ½ c. confectioners’ sugar

1 c. butter flavored shortening

1 egg

1 tsp. pure vanilla extract

½ tsp. almond extract

2 ½ c. all-purpose flour

1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. cream of tartar

Directions

Preheat oven to 350° Fahrenheit. Lightly grease cookie sheets.

Mix the sugar, shortening, egg, vanilla and almond extract until creamy. Mix in the flour, baking soda and cream of tartar.

Make several small balls of dough. Roll out dough to about ¼ inch thick. Cut into desired shapes with well-floured cookie cutters. If desired, press candies, raisins, nuts or sprinkles into cookies. Place cookies onto the prepared sheets.

Bake for eight to 10 minutes, depending upon whether you like hard or soft cookies. Remove cookies and let cool on a rack.

I recommend setting up one decorating station for every two or three kids. You don’t want a whole roomful clamoring over one set of decorations. If you’re of a mind, have a little decorating contest … but make sure everyone gets SOME sort of prize. It’s Halloween, after all!