Shaped Cookies

 My son loves to bake! Cookies, cakes, muffins you name it he is down for the task. I have been wanting to make cookies that we could make into shapes and decorate but have not been able to find one that we could make spur of the moment. Most recipes call for at least two hours of refrigeration not ideal for an impatient 2 year old. Once the dough was created I put it into the freezer for 15 minutes to chill it then proceeded to roll it out.

I used whole wheat flour, since I use it in place of white flour wherever I can. The recipe does not need any different measurements if you want to swap the whole wheat for regular all purpose flour. This recipe results in a firm but still soft cookie, not crispy at all. The flavor is semi sweet, think 'breakfast cookie'!

 Shaped Cookies

• 3/4 cup butter  
• 1 cup white sugar
• 2 eggs 
• 1 tsp vanilla 
• 2 1/2 cups whole wheat flour 
• 1 tsp salt 
• 1 tsp baking powder

* Cream together butter and sugar in bowl

* Add vanilla, flour, salt and baking powder, mix until smooth

* Chill for 15 minutes in freezer or 2 hours in fridge

* Roll out on well floured area, we made ours about 5-10mm thick, press cookie cutter shapes into dough and place on cookie sheet. They can be pretty close together since they don't spread

* Bake at 400 for 5-8 minutes

* Allow to cool on wire rack, once totally cool decorate