Spritz cookies

This is my favorite tried-and-true recipe for pressed cookies. I grew up with this recipe.

1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened
1/4 cup shortening (I usually use margarine instead)
3/4 cup sugar
1 egg
2 teaspoons vanilla extract*
2 cups flour
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt

Optional: a few drops of food coloring can be added as desired.

Preheat oven to 375ºF. Mix up everything but the flour, then stir in the flour**.

Follow the directions on your cookie press, using it to put the cookies on the sheets about an inch apart from one another. If you just want the flavor without the cookie press, you can drop dough by teaspoonfuls onto the cookie sheet.

Decorate the cookies with sprinkles, colored sugar, or other candies before baking, if desired. Rainbow nonpareils look awesome on tree-shaped cookies!

Bake for about 10-12 minutes. Allow these to cool thoroughly on a wire rack for the best texture

* A half teaspoon of almond extract can be substituted for half a teaspoon of the vanilla, if you want. I love almond extract.

**If using a stand mixer, do not overmix the flour--only mix until it is combined. If you mix it too long, the gluten in the flour will change its quality and make chewy cookies. These are supposed to be crispy, not chewy.