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Sugar Cookies with Shortening

 
On 7/30/2018 6:35 PM, robin wrote:
Hello -

My grandmother (she was not a very good cook) used to make sugar cookies using 
shortening in the 1960s. I assume she used a recipe that was popular at the time

The cookie had a small crumb texture, that is similar to the texture to home made 
peanut butter cookies that are slightly pressed down with the tines of a fork to 
make a pattern on the top. She decorated them with 1 chocolate chip.

I have tried a few recipes on the internet using Crisco, but the cookies were 
either very dense or else they fell apart.

I would really appreciate your help!

Thank you in advance,
Robin

Hello Robin,

When people put recipes on the Internet, they rarely mention the texture of the cookie produced, and they almost never put a date on the recipe like "this is from the 1960s." I didn't have any luck searching for a particular sugar cookie made with shortening, pressed with a fork and decorated with a chocolate chip like you describe.

I'll post this for reader input.

Phaed

Subject: Sugar Cookies with Shortening
From: Timm
Date: 8/16/2018 1:46 AM
To: phaedrus@hungrybrowser.com

After WWII there was a vegetable shortening called Spry that offered recipes on the 
side of their cans.

Here is one example of a sugar cookie.           

Timm in Oregon


Brown Rim Sugar Cookies

Ingredients:

1 cup Spry
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2/3 cup white granulated sugar
2 large eggs, well beaten
2-1/2 cups double sifted flour

Instructions:

Combine the Spry, salt, and vanilla. Add the sugar, then beaten eggs and beat thoroughly. 
Add the flour and mix well.
Drop from tip of a teaspoon on baking sheets greased with Spry. Let stand a few minutes 
and then flatten cookies by pressing with a fork. Bake the cookies in a moderately hot 
375F degree oven for 8 to 10 minutes or until delicately browned. 
Yield: about 4-1/2 dozen cookies.

(The chocolate chip was probably grandma's special touch.)
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Subject: sugar cookies
From: james 
Date: 8/15/2018 9:44 AM
To: phaedrus@hungrybrowser.com

I saw someone had requested a sugar cookie recipe that used shortening. I showed 
this to a friend who owns two bakeries specializing in cookies, cakes. He immediately 
said:: The texture sounds like a tea cake. He said tea cakes are also called sugar cookies 
and have been around forever. There are numerous recipes. 
Here is one: https://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/southern-tea-cakes/ 

Hope this helps

JAMES
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Subject: Sugar Cookies
From: Karen
Date: 8/14/2018 1:10 PM
To: phaedrus@hungrybrowser.com

My grandmother made these cookies and they are Tea Cookies made with Crisco, 
egg, milk and flour.  Her recipe called for 5 cups of flour so they made a lot.  
Rolled out and cut like thin biscuits.