Christmas Cookies

2 cups sugar
1 cup butter (softened)
3 eggs
1 cup sour cream
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
6 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
colored sugars, jimmies, non-pareils or dragées (optional)
decorating icing (optional)

In a mixing bowl, beat together sugar and shortening until light and fluffy. Stir in eggs, sour cream and vanilla extract; beat well. In another bowl, stir together flour and baking soda. Stir flour mixture into shortening mixture until well combined. If necessary, add enough extra flour so that the dough forms a ball. Divide dough into 4 parts. Wrap each part in plastic wrap and chill about 2 hours.

Pre-heat oven to 350 F. Roll out to 1/4-inch thickness between two sheets of waxed paper. Cut into desired shapes with cookie cutters. Place on ungreased cookie sheet. If desired, decorate with colored sugars, jimmies, or dragées. Bake 8-10 minutes or until edges of cookies are golden. Allow to cool one minute on cookie sheets and then remove to wire racks to cool completely.

If cookies were not decorated before baking, decorate with icing.