My Favorite Soft Sugar Cookies

These are soft, chewy, bite-sized, no-roll sugar cookies with a yummy flavor twist. Be sure not to overbake!

2/3 cup shortening
2/3 cup butter
1 1/2 cups white sugar
2 eggs
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 teaspoon lemon extract
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup granulated sugar for decoration


Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
In a medium bowl, cream together the butter, shortening and sugar. Make sure you beat until fluffy...it really does make a difference! Stir in the eggs and vanilla. Combine the flour, baking powder and salt, stir into the creamed mixture until dough comes together. Roll dough into walnut (I like them a bit smaller!) sized balls and roll the balls in sugar. Place them on an unprepared cookie sheet about 2 inches apart.
Bake cookies 10 to 12 minutes (8-10 for smaller cookies) in the preheated oven, until set. Remove from baking sheets to cool on wire racks.