Grandma's Sugar Cookies

My grandma made the best sugar cookies, but her recipe makes close to a million cookies. Ok, that may be a slight exaggeration, but it makes a LOT of cookies! I've always said that I was going to downsize the recipe, but never got around to it until just recently. This scaled down recipe made 2 dozen 3" cookies and they are just like grandma's (minus the raisin that she always added to the center of each cookie).

Grandma's Sugar Cookies

1 cup sugar
1/2 cup shortening
1 egg
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup milk
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 cups flour

In a large bowl cream the shortening and the sugar. Add the egg, vanilla, and milk. In a medium bowl mix the dry ingredients with a wire whisk. Add the dry ingredients to the large bowl. Mix until well combined. Wrap the dough with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 2 to 3 hours or overnight.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Roll the dough (half at a time) to 1/4" thick. With floured cookie cutter, cut into shapes. Place cookies 1/2 inch apart on lightly greased cookie sheets. Sprinkle with sugar and if desired, add a raisin to the center of each cookie. Bake 8 minutes or until very light brown at the edges. Let stand on cookie sheets for two minutes before removing to wire racks to cool completely.