Cookies--Star Christmas Cookies

To make star christmas cookies:
1/2 cup vegetable shortening
1/3 cup butter, softened
2 egg yolks
1 tsp vanilla
1 pkg yellow or devil's food cake mix
1 Tbsp water

Frosting:
1 container vanilla frosting
Green food coloring
Red and green sugar crystals for garnish
Assorted colored candies and decors for garnish

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. For cookies, combine shortening, butter, egg yolks and vanilla. Gradually blend in cake mix. Add water 1 teaspoon at a time until dough is of rolling consistency.

Divide dough into four balls. Flatten one ball with hand; roll to 1/8 inch thickness on lightly floured surface. Cut with graduated sizes star cookie cutters. Repeat using remaining dough. Bake large cookies together on ungreased baking sheet. Bake 6 to 8 minutes or until edges are lightly golden or set. Cool cookies for 1 minute. Remove from baking sheet to continue cooling. Repeat with smaller cookies, testing for doneness at minimum baking time.

Frosting:
Tint vanilla frosting with green food coloring.  Frost cookies and stack, beginning with largest cookies on the bottom and ending with the smallest cookies on top. Rotate cookies when stacking to alternate corners. Decorate as desired with colored sugar crystals and assorted colored candies and decors.  Makes 2 to 3 dozen cookies.