My Favorite Christmas Cookies

• 2/3 cup vegetable shortening
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon finely grated orange or lemon zest
• 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1 large egg
• 4 teaspoons milk
• 2 cups all-purpose flour, plus extra for rolling out dough
• 1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon fine salt
• 1 large egg yolk
• 2 to 3 drops food coloring
• One 2-pound bag confectioners' sugar
• 1/4 cup milk
• 2 tablespoons pasteurized egg white

1. For the cookies: Cream the shortening, granulated sugar, orange zest and vanilla thoroughly in a stand mixer for 2 minutes.
2. Add in the egg and beat until light and fluffy, about 1 more minute.
3. Add in the milk and mix.
4. Sift the dry ingredients together, then blend into the cream mixture.
5. Divide the dough in half (thirds if you double your recipe), slightly flatten between two sheets of waxed paper and refrigerate for one hour (or freeze for 20 minutes).
6. Roll out the dough 1/4-inch thick on a lightly floured surface and cut into shapes with a cookie cutter.
7. Transfer the shapes to lightly greased cookie sheets and chill until firm, about 30 minutes.
8. For the egg yolk glaze: While the dough is chilling, combine the egg yolk, 1 teaspoons water and food coloring.
9. Paint the cookies with a soft brush with the glaze.
10. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
11. After brushing with the glaze, bake for 6 to 7 minutes.
12. The cookies will be slightly puffed and the glaze will look crackled.
13. Do not allow the cookies to brown.
14. Bake in batches, two sheets total if you don't reroll the scraps.
15. For the decorative icing: While cookies are baking, mix the confectioners' sugar, milk and egg whites.
16. When making the white decorative icing, make sure that it is thick and somewhat retains its shape.
17. Remove cookies from oven to a wire rack to cool completely, about 30 minutes.
18. Then, using a pastry bag or zip-top bag, pipe with white icing to decorate.
19. From Food Network Kitchens; after further testing and to ensure the best results this recipe has been altered from what was in the actual episode.

vegetable shortening, sugar, lemon zest, vanilla, egg, milk, flour, baking powder, salt, egg yolk, coloring, sugar, milk, pasteurized egg

Taken from www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ree-drummond/my-favorite-christmas-cookies-recipe.html (may not work)