Simple Sugar Cookies

🥘 Ingredients

• baking soda
  1/2 tsp
• buttermilk
  4 tbsp
• flour
  2 c
• nutmeg
  1/8 tsp
• salt
  1/4 tsp
• sugar
  2/3 c
• vanilla
  1 Tbsp
• vegetable shortening
  1/2 c

🍳 Cookware

• large bowl
• parchment-lined baking sheet
• cookie scoop

1. 1

   Preheat the oven to 350°F.
2. 2

   In a large bowl , beat together the vegetable shortening and sugar until smooth. Add the buttermilk and vanilla , again beating until well combined. The mixture may look a bit curdled, which is OK. Add the nutmeg , flour , baking soda , and salt to the wet ingredients and beat until the mixture forms a cohesive dough.

   vegetable shortening: 1/2 c, sugar: 2/3 c, buttermilk: 4 tbsp, vanilla: 1 Tbsp, nutmeg: 1/8 tsp, flour: 2 c, baking soda: 1/2 tsp, salt: 1/4 tsp
3. 3

   Drop the dough in round balls onto a parchment-lined baking sheet . They should be a bit bigger than a Ping-Pong ball, a bit smaller than a golf ball. Using a cookie scoop (or a small ice cream scoop that holds about 2 level tablespoons of liquid) makes this task extremely simple. Leave about 2 between the dough balls, as they’ll spread as they bake. If you want a crisp cookie, flatten the cookies as described above. If you like a chewier center, leave them as is.
4. 4

   Bake the cookies for 16 to ⏱️ 18 minutes , until they’re just beginning to brown around the bottom edges. Remove them from the oven and cool on a rack. As they cool, they’ll become crisp. If you want them to remain crisp, store them in an airtight container when they’re totally cool. If you want them to get a bit chewy, store them in a bag with a slice of apple.