Vegan Christmas Tree Sugar Cookies

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F
2. In a large bowl, cream together the shortening and the sugar.
3. Mix in the water and vanilla until combined. 
4. Sift in the flour and baking powder, then mix until the dough is smooth. 
5. Divide the dough in two, and set aside half of the dough. 
6. Add a few drops of food coloring to one half of the dough and mix until the color is uniform throughout. 
7. On a lightly floured surface, roll the plain un-colored cookie dough until it’s 1/4” thick. Cut the dough in circles using a 3” round cookie cutter. 
8. Using a 1” Christmas tree cookie cutter, cut a Christmas tree shape into the middle of the cookie and remove the inside piece of the cookie dough. Place the cookies on a parchment lined baking sheet.
9. Roll the green cookie dough out on a lightly floured surface until it’s 1/4” thick. Cut the dough into Christmas tree shapes with the small cookie cutter. 
10. Place the green Christmas trees into the centers of the cookies on the baking sheet. 
11. Bake for 10 minutes, then remove from the oven and let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 10 minutes before transferring to a cooling rack.