Tailgating Treats, Part 2

For a tailgating sweet, I thought nothing could be better than football-shaped cookies. I decided that sugar cookies would be best, frosted with chocolate powdered sugar icing. This baking adventure was pretty amateur, though, because I had neither a rolling pin nor a football-shaped cookie cutter. I used a Nalgene bottle for the former and cut around a football shape with a knife to make the cookies. They still turned out pretty well, however, and tasted quite like the Keebler fudge cookies. The recipe is from Better Homes & Gardens.

Sugar Cookie Cutouts

2/3 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 egg
1 tablespoon milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups all-purpose flour

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a large mixing bowl, beat butter on medium to high speed for 30 seconds. Add granulated sugar, baking powder and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Beat until combined, scraping sides of bowl occasionally. Beat in egg, milk and vanilla. Beat in as much of the flour as you can with the mixer. Stir in any remaining flour. Divide dough in half. If necessary, cover and chill dough about 30 minutes or until easy to handle.

2. On a lightly floured surface, roll half the dough at a time until 1/8 inch thick. Using a 2 1/2-inch cookie cutter, cut dough into desired shapes. Place 1 inch apart on an ungreased cookie sheet.

3. Bake for 7 to 8 minutes or until edges are firm and bottoms are barely light brown. Transfer to a wire rack and let cool. Frost.