Basic Sugar Cookies And Basic Almond Buttercream Frosting Recipe by Meredith F Basic Sugar Cookies And Basic Almond Buttercream Frosting Recipe For the Cookies: 2 cups of butter, softened 2 cups of sugar 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract 1 teaspoon of almond extract 2 eggs 4 teaspoons baking powder 6 cups flour For the Frosting: 2 Cups shortening 1 Tablespoon vanilla extract 1 teaspoon almond extract 8 Cups powdered sugar 1/8 Cup heavy cream (more or less to desired consistency) food coloring, if desiredFor the Cookies: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In the bowl of your mixer cream butter and sugar until smooth. Beat in extracts and eggs. In a separate bowl combine baking powder with flour and add a little at a time to the wet ingredients. The dough will be very stiff. If it becomes too stiff for your mixer turn out the dough onto a countertop surface. Wet your hands and finish off kneading the dough by hand.DO NOT CHILL THE DOUGH. Divide into workable batches, roll out onto a floured surface and cut. You want these cookies to be on the thicker side (closer to 1/4 inch rather than 1/8). Bake at 350 for 6-8 minutes. Let cool on the cookie sheet until firm enough to transfer to a cooling rack.For the Frosting: In the bowl of your mixer beat shortening until smooth and creamy. Mix in vanilla (and almond extract if using). Add powdered sugar (1 cup at a time) until combined, then add cream & mix until smooth and spreading consistency. Adjust cream to desired frosting thickness Add a few drops of color, if desired.