Add These Treats To The Goodies at Your Next Game-Watching or Tailgate Party: Maple Sugar Cookies!

The next time your family and friends gather at your house to watch "the game" or you plan a tailgating party, add these delicious cookies to your list of foods.  Chips and dips, sandwiches, etc are great.  But surprise your guests with these wonderful cookies, too. These are cut-out cookies so why not go all out and cut them in the shapes of footballs, helmets, or fall leaves. Frost them in your team colors for lots of ooohs and aaahs from your family and friends.  What a way to dress up your serving table!  If you enjoy tailgate parties, these work wonderful for that, too.  You will be the hit of "Friday Night Lights" in your local hometown stadium parking lot when you pass these cookies among your family and friends. They will love you for it! These Maple Sugar cookies are good anytime of the year but they just seem to say, "Fall" and "Football."

MAPLE SUGAR COOKIES
1 1/4 cups sugar
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup solid shortening
2 eggs
1/4 cup maple flavored pancake syrup
1 tbsp vanilla extract
3 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

In a large bowl, combine the sugar, butter, and shortening. Beat on medium speed of electric mixer until well blended. Add the eggs, syrup, and vanilla extract; beat well.

In a separate bowl, combine flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Add gradually to the creamed mixture with the mixer on low speed. Mix until well blended. Divide the dough into fourths. Note: If dough is too sticky, wrap each fourth in plastic wrap and refrigerate for approximately 1 hour.

Spread a tablespoon of flour on a large sheet of waxed paper. Place one of the fourths of dough on the floured waxed paper. Flatten dough slightly, turn over and cover with another sheet of waxed paper. Roll dough to 1/4-inch thickness. Cut out with floured cookie cutter. Transfer to ungreased baking sheet, 2-inches apart. Sprinkle with decors or bake plain to frost later.

Repeat process with remaining fourths.

Bake at 375 degrees for 5-9 minutes (larger cookies up to 9 minutes; small cookies for 5 minutes). Do NOT overbake. Allow to cool for 2 minutes on baking sheets then remove to wire racks to cool completely. Frost if desired.

Yield: 3 to 4 dozen, depending on size.

Enjoy!