Brown Sugar Cutouts

Total Time: 3 hrs 10 mins Preparation Time: 2 hrs 20 mins Cook Time: 50 mins

Ingredients

• 1 cup butter, softened
• 2 cups light brown sugar, packed
• 3 eggs
• 2 teaspoons grated lemon peel
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 -3 tablespoons half-and-half
• green food coloring (optional)

Recipe

• 1 in large mixing bowl, cream butter and brown sugar.
• 2 add the eggs and lemon peel; beat well.
• 3 combine the flour, baking soda and ginger; gradually add to creamed mixture and mix well.
• 4 cover and refrigerate for 2 hours or until easy to handle.
• 5 on a floured surface, roll out dough to 1/8-inch thickness.
• 6 cut with 2-inch cookie cutters.
• 7 place 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheets.
• 8 bake at 350 degrees for 8-10 minutes or until golden brown.
• 9 remove to wire racks to cool.
• 10 for frosting, in a bowl, combine confectioners' sugar, vanilla and enough cream to achieve spreading consistency.
• 11 add food coloring if desired to some or all of the frosting.
• 12 decorate cookies.