elmo soft frosted sugar cookie

I have been hooked on soft sugar cookies ever since I made them for the 4th of July.  I have tried my hand at royal icing and it came out ok but, it was a lot of work and made my kitchen a big mess.  I wanted to do a decorated sugar cookie for Campbell's elmo party so, I immediately thought these soft round cookies would be the perfect canvas for elmo's adorable furry face.  With the use of Wilton's grass tip #233 I was able to frost the cookie with red fur.  After the frosting was on the cookie elmo quickly came together with candy melts, m&ms, and gumballs.  He was almost too cute to eat.  The birthday girl loved them and still asks daily for an elmo cookie.  These not only taste good but, look good too.  A total hit for us. 

elmo sugar cookie

adapted: all-recipes

    * 2/3 cup shortening
    * 2/3 cup butter
    * 1 1/4 cups white sugar
    * 2 large eggs
    * 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
    * 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
    * 2 teaspoons baking powder
    * 1 teaspoon salt

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
 
Whisk together flour, baking powder and salt.  Set aside. 

Cream together the butter, shortening and sugar for ~ 4minutes.

Stir in the eggs and vanilla.

Stir the dry ingredients into the creamed mixture until dough comes together. 

Scoop dough.   Place them on an unprepared cookie sheet about 2 inches apart.  Bake cookies 10 to 12 minutes.  Remove from baking sheets to cool on wire racks.

frosting

1/2 cup shortening
4 cups powdered sugar, sifted
6 tablespoons whole milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract 
red food coloring
decorations: dark chocolate and white candy melts, black m&ms and orange gumballs

Sift the powdered sugar.
In a bowl of a stand mixer with the paddle attachment, mix together the shortening and powdered sugar. Add in milk. Mix.  Add in the vanilla extract. Mix on medium high speed until smooth.

Frost the cookies with frosting and top with decorations.