Vanilla-Bean Sugar Cookies

Vanilla-Bean Sugar Cookies

Recipe By :Gourmet, August 1999
Serving Size : 36 Preparation Time :0:00
Categories : Formed

Amount Measure Ingredient — Preparation Method
——– ———— ——————————–
6 tablespoons unsalted butter — softened
2 tablespoons cold vegetable shortening
1 cup sugar
2 vanilla beans
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt

In a bowl with an electric mixer beat together butter, shortening, and 3/4
cup sugar until light and fluffy.
With a knife halve vanilla beans lengthwise. Scrape seeds into butter
mixture and beat in egg and vanilla extract until combined well.
Sift flour, baking powder, and salt into mixture and beat until just
combined.
On a large sheet of wax paper form dough into a 10- by 2-inch log and roll
up in wax paper. Chill dough until firm, at least 4 hours. Dough keeps up to
3 days wrapped in wax paper and foil.
Preheat oven to 375 F.
Put remaining 1/4 cup sugar on a platter. Remove wax paper and roll log in
sugar (not all sugar will adhere to log).
Cut log crosswise into 1/4-inch-thick slices and dip cut sides of slices in
sugar on platter.
Arrange cookies 1/2 inch apart on ungreased baking sheets and bake in
batches in middle of oven 10 to 12 minutes, or until edges are pale golden.
With a metal spatula transfer cookies to a rack to cool.
Cookies may be made 2 days ahead and kept between sheets of wax paper in an
airtight container.