SUGAR COOKIE RECIPE WITH ORANGE ZEST RECIPES

Steps:

• In a large bowl, cream butter, sugar and salt until light and fluffy, 5-7 minutes. Beat in egg, orange zest, orange juice and extract. Gradually beat in flour., Divide dough in half. Shape each into a disk. Cover and refrigerate 1 hour or until firm enough to roll., Preheat oven to 375°. On a floured surface, roll each portion of dough to 1/4-in. thickness. Cut with a floured 2-1/2-in. cookie cutter. Place 1 in. apart on greased baking sheets., Bake until edges are light brown, 8-10 minutes. Remove from pans to wire racks to cool completely., In a small bowl, mix confectioners' sugar, milk and, if desired, food coloring until smooth. Pipe or spread over cookies; let stand until set.

Steps:

• In a large bowl, cream together the shortening and sugar. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, then stir in the orange juice, vanilla and orange zest. Combine the flour, baking powder and salt, stir into the creamed mixture until well blended. Cover and refrigerate overnight.
• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough out to 1/4 inch thickness. Cut into shapes with cookie cutters or stamps. Place cookies 1 inch apart onto an unprepared cookie sheet.
• Bake for 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven. Allow cookies to cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.