Cream together butter or shortening until light, gradually adding sugar; beat until fluffy. On medium low speed, beat in eggs, milk, and vanilla. Stir in flour/baking powder mixture.

Add enough of the remaining 1 1/2 cups flour to make a smooth dough that is not too stiff. Do not add too much flour or the cookies will be heavy.

Chill dough for 1 hour or more.

Combine 2 tablespoons sugar with the cinnamon.

After dough is thoroughly chilled, roll out and cut into shapes using cookies cutters dipped in flour.

Sprinkle with the sugar-cinnamon mixture.

Arrange 1-inch apart on ungreased cookie sheets and bake in a preheated 400°F. oven for 9 or10 minutes, watching carefully near the end of baking.

To make crackly cookies, roll the dough into small balls, then roll evenly in the sugar-cinnamon mixture.

Bake as directed above.

Pure almond extract or grated lemon or orange peel may be used to flavor the cookies as a substitute for the vanilla. Flavored liqueurs, rum and whisky also make for flavorful variations.

Submitted by: CM