Favorite Egg-Free/Dairy Free Cut Out Cookies

INGREDIENTS

• 1 and 1/3 cup Crisco® Butter Flavor All-Vegetable Shortening OR 1 and 1/3 stick Crisco® Baking Sticks Butter Flavor All-Vegetable Shortening 
• 1 and 1/2 cup sugar 
• 2 tablespoon plus 2 teaspoon vanilla flavored soy milk (if you don't have an allergy, cow's milk works fine here)
• 2 teaspoon vanilla extract 
• 1/2 cup applesauce (this is your "1 large egg")
• 4 cups All Purpose Flour 
• 3 teaspoons baking powder 
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

DIRECTIONS

1. COMBINE shortening, sugar, milk and vanilla in bowl of electric mixer; beat at medium speed until well blended. Beat in applesauce.
2. COMBINE flour, baking powder and salt in medium bowl. Mix into creamed mixture at low speed until well blended. Cover and refrigerate several hours or overnight. 
3. HEAT oven to 375ºF. 
4. ROLL out 1/2 dough at a time to about 1/4-inch thickness on lightly floured surface. Cut out with cookie cutters. Place 2 inches apart on ungreased baking sheets. Sprinkle with colored sugars and decors or leave plain and frost when cooled. 
5. BAKE 11 to 13 minutes, or until set. Remove immediately to cooling rack. (*Lower the baking time to 7-10 minutes if you roll out your dough is 1/8-inch thickness-I like my cookies thicker, thus the longer baking time.)