Norwegian Butter Cookies
Ingredients
1 1/2 cups soft shortening (half butter or margarine)
1 cup of sugar
2 eggs
2 teaspoons grated orange peel
3 3/4 cups sifted all-purpose flour
1 egg white, unbeaten
Red and green decorating sugar
Red cinnamon candies
Red candied cherries, cut into pieces
Citron, cut in strips
Method
In a mixing bowl, beat shortening until creamy. Add the 1 cup of sugar gradually, continuing to beat until light. Add eggs and orange peel, mix thoroughly. Stir in flour, blending well. Chill dough for 2 or 3 hours.
Set over for hot, 400-degrees. Roll out about a quarter of the dough at a time, on a lightly floured board or pastry cloth, about 1/4 inch thick. Cut with a floured doughnut cutter. Place on an ungreased baking sheet. Brush tops with egg white. Decorate, as shown, with red and green sugar, candies, cherries, and bits of citron. Bake 10 to 12 minutes. Remove from pan and cool on a wire rack.
Makes about 6 dozen cookies.