Shaped cookies

There is a secret to making perfectly shaped cookies and its all about freezing the dough!  The recipe needs to be firm enough not to spread all over the place so the cookie holds it's shape.  This is a good recipe that makes about 24 medium hearts and stars, and 12 small hearts and bears!

Ingredients
3 cups Plain Flour
1 tsp salt
1 cup butter (225g) softened
1 cup sugar
1 cold egg
1 tbspn vanilla

Method
Preheat the oven to 165 degrees.

Mix the butter and sugar together for 5 minutes until pale and fluffy.

Add the egg.

Add the sifted flour, then vanilla.

Roll with 2 dowels to make each biscuit an even thickness.

Freeze the rolled out dough before cutting into shapes.

Bake for 12-14 minutes or until edges have browned slightly.


The best icing is royal icing as it sets hard.  You need to add the sprinkles before it dries!