Recipe: Halloween sugar cookies

Servings: About 2 dozen cookies.

Note: Paste food color works better than liquid food coloring when tinting cookie dough. It’s available in specialty markets and some party stores. Be careful: A little goes a long way.

1/2 cup butter, softened

1 cup sugar

2 eggs

1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

2 1/2 cups flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

Orange paste food color

Chocolate sprinkles

1. Beat butter and sugar in mixer until creamy. Beat in eggs, 1 at a time, then add vanilla.

2. Combine flour, baking powder and salt in large bowl and beat in butter mixture. Add small amount orange paste food color to dough with toothpick and beat at low speed until dough is evenly colored.

3. Form dough into walnut-sized balls and place 2 inches apart on lightly greased baking sheet. Flatten balls gently with palm of your hand, then press with fork tines to make grid pattern.

4. Top with chocolate sprinkles and bake at 375 degrees 10 to 12 minutes.

Each cookie contains about: 116 calories; 87 mg sodium; 28 mg cholesterol; 4 grams fat; 17 grams carbohydrates; 2 grams protein; 0.04 gram fiber.