Bears And Stars Recipe

Ingredients

2 1/2 c. brown sugar

1 c. butter

1/2 c. shortening

2 eggs

4 1/2 c. flour

2 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. each ginger, cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg

1/2 tsp salt

Preparation

Beat brown sugar, butter, shortening and eggs. Stir in remaining ingredients.

Roll one fourth of dough at a time 1/4" thick on lightly floured surface. Cut into bears and stars. Place about 2" apart on an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 375 for 8 to 10 minutes or until lightly browned. Remove from cookie sheet and cool on a wire rack.

Frost with Royal Frosting.

or frost with Caramel Frosting:

1/2 c. butter 1 c. brown sugar 1/4 c. milk 2 c. icing sugar

Melt butter. Stir in brown sugar. Bring to a boil, boil and stir 2 minutes. Stir in milk. Heat to boiling; remove from heat. Cool to lukewarm, stirring occasionally. Gradually stir in icing sugar. Beat until smooth and spreadable. Add additional milk if needed, 1 tsp. at a time.

VARIATIONS: Cardamom Lemon Cookies - omit spices, add 1 tsp. cardamom and zest and juice from 1 lemon.

Lightly Spiced Cookies - reduce spices by one-half.