1 cup butter or margarine, softened
1 1/2 cups confectioners’ sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
2 1/2 cups Gold Medal Flour^*
1 teaspoon soda
1 teaspoon cream of tartar
5 food colors

Mix throughly butter, confectioners’ sugar, egg and flavorings. Blend in flour, soda, and cream of tartar. Divide dough in half; color portions of one half with food colors. Cover dough; chill 2 to 3 hours.

Heat oven to 375°. Roll plain half of dough 1/8 inch thick on lightly floured cloth-covered board. Cut the tree, star, ball or other decorative cookie cutters. Place on lightly greased baking sheet. Roll colored doughs; cut out different shapes to fit on top of each plain cookie shape.

If you wish to hang the cookies on your Christmas tree, insert small piece of paper drinking straw through top of each cookie before baking. Bake 7 to 8 minutes or until golden brown on edges. About 2 dozen cookies.

^*If using self-rising flour, omit soda and cream of tartar.

For brightly colored cookies, use paste food color, available in most speciality stores.

©Copyright 1971 by General Mills, Inc. All rights reserved. Printed in U.S.A.