Soft Amish Sugar Cookies

These make a soft, large cookie, more cake-like in texture and taste is wonderful! One cookie is enough for most as a serving.

1 cup butter flavored shortening
2-1/2 cups white sugar
3 eggs
1-3/4 teaspoons vanilla extract
3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cream of tartar
1/2 teaspoon of lemon zest
1 pinch salt
1 cup buttermilk
1/4 cup white sugar for sprinkling over the top.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease cookie sheets. (I prefer to use no-stick sheets, ungreased)

Cream together the shortening and 2-1/2 cups sugar until smooth. Stir in the eggs, one at a time, then the vanilla.

Combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cream of tartar and salt; stir into the creamed mixture alternately with the buttermilk until well blended. This will make a very soft cookie dough.

Place heaping tablespoonfuls onto cookie sheets about 3 to 4 inches apart. Sprinkle each cookie with some of the 1/4 cup of sugar set aside.

Bake for 10 to 12 minutes in the preheated oven, until edges start to turn golden and centers gently spring back. Remove from sheets to cool on wire racks. When cool, store in an airtight container and separate the layers with wax paper.