Christmas Cookies Part 1: Snickerdoodles

These little cinnamon-sugar-dusted beauties are my absolute favorite Christmas cookie!  They're crispy on the outside, chewy on the inside, and they taste like the holidays.  Plus, they make your apartment smell like Santa's workshop - or at least what Santa's workshop should smell like.

Snickerdoodles
(Makes 3 dozen)

1 1/2 cups + 2 TBSP sugar
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup vegetable shortening
2 large eggs
2 3/4 cups flour
2 tsp. cream of tartar
1 tsp. baking soda

1/4 tsp. salt

2 tsp. cinnamon

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.  In a large bowl, cream together 1 1/2 cups sugar, butter, and vegetable shortening.  Add eggs, one at a time, stirring to incorporate.  In a medium bowl, combine flour, cream of tartar, baking soda, and salt.  Gradually add dry ingredients to wet ingredients, mixing between additions.  Combine remaining sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl, stirring to combine.  Scoop the cookie dough by tablespoonfuls and roll in the cinnamon sugar mixture.  Arrange on a cookie sheet (about 12 per sheet) and bake for 8-10 minutes.  Allow cookies to cool slightly before transferring from the cookie sheet to a cooling rack.  Enjoy with milk, wine, hot cocoa, or right off the cookie sheet :o)

Trust me, you won't want to leave these out for Santa!