Mom's Spritz Christmas Baking with SusieJ

Measurements [metric]

• 1 c shortening
• 3/4 c sugar
• 1 egg
• Either:
• 1 tsp lemon extract
• 1 tsp almond extract
• 2 1/4 c flour
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• Colored sugars, jimmies, dragees and food coloring for decoration.

Cream shortening until soft. Add sugar gradually, until the shortening is light and fluffy. Add the egg and lemon extract, and beat on medium high speed. Sift together the flour, salt and baking powder. Add the dry ingredients in three additions. Beat well on medium speed after each addition.

Chill dough 10 to 20 minutes.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

Taking a large handfull of the chilled dough, shape into a log about two to three inches in diameter. Place log of dough in the spritz gun, and return remainder of dough to the refrigerator.

Squeeze dough onto an ungreased cookie sheet. Decorate with colored sugars, dragees and jimmies.

Bake 8 to 10 minutes until golden brown.

To color dough, add a few drops of food coloring to a large handful of dough. Knead dough between hands or on a washable surface; the food coloring will stain your hands and the counter, but this will wash off. At first the dough will have a nice marbled effect, but the dye will distribute evenly after a bit of kneading.

• Category: Cookies
• Region: Germany
• Special diet: Nut-free