I had to counter the poster who said people who are allergic to milk can have it in baked goods - THAT IS NOT TRUE! A milk allergy is a milk allergy and you should avoid all dairy, including casein and whey!
This is the sugar cookie recipe we use (my youngest is allergic to milk also):
This recipe is gret for making w/ cookie cutters:
1 cup softened butter (for the butter we use fleishcmans light unsalted sticks are dairy free, as well as the Always Save brand at Albertsons - the one w/ 52% vegetable oil)
1 cup sugar
1 large egg
2 tsp vanilla
2 tsp baking powder
3 cups flour
Beat butter adn sugar, add egg, vanilla and baking powder, then add flour and mix well.
Cut out and decorate, cook at 400 for 6-7 min (cut 1/8 - 1/4 thick)
We also use this recipe sometimes (it's from betty crocker) when I am not in the mood to do all the rolling out and cutting:
Soft No-Roll Sugar cookies
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup powdered sugar
1 cup butter or stick margarine (softened)
3/4 cup vegetable oil
2 tablespoons milk (we sub rice milk)
1 tablespoon vanilla
2 eggs
4 1/4 cups all purpose flour
1 tsp bakingsoda
1 tsp cream of tartar
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup granulated sugar
Beat 1 cup granulated sugar, teh powdered sugar, butter, oil, milk, vanilla and eggs in large bowl with electric mixer on med or mix with spoon. Stir in remaining ingredients except 1/2 cup sugar. Cover adn refrigerate about 2 hours or until firm
Heat oven to 350
Sahpe dough into 1 1/2 inch balls. Roll balls in 1/2 cup granulated sugar (we use sprinkles instead). Place 3 inches aprt on ungreased cookie sheet. Press bottom of drinking glass on each ball until about 1/4 inch thick. Sprinkle each cookie w/ a little additional sugar.
Bake 13-15 min or until set and edges just begin to turn bronw. Immediately remove from cookie sheet to wire rack.