Ingredients
1 cup Butter or Shortening
1 cup Sugar
2 Eggs
2 teaspoons Vanilla Extract
1/4 teaspoon Almond Extract
3 1/2 cups Flour, sifted
1/2 teaspoon Baking Powder
1/2 teaspoon Salt
Preparation
Cream butter or shortening until light and fluffy.
Add eggs, one at a time, mixing just enough to incorporate.
Add extracts to creamed mixture.
In a separate bowl, combine flour, salt and baking powder.
Add flour mixture to creamed mixture, adding a third of the flour mixture at a time, beating lightly to incorporate the flour into the butter.
If desired mix in either zested lemon or orange peel.
Wrap disks of dough tightly in plastic wrap, and chill 4 hrs to overnight.
Roll out dough between sheets of parchment, cut shapes, and re-chill on baking sheets to retain shapes while cooking.
Bake at 325 F until edges are light brown (5 plus minutes).
Cut outs can be brushed with beaten egg white before baking to glaze if desired.
