Soft Frosted Sugar Cookies

Ingredients (Cookies)
1 cup vegetable shortening
1 cup white sugar
1/4 cup milk
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda

 Ingredients (Icing)
1/4 cup butter
3 cups confectioners' sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract, or more to taste
2 tablespoons milk, or as needed  

Directions (Cookies)
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). 
2. Beat vegetable shortening, white sugar, 1/4 cup milk, eggs, and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract together in a bowl.  
3. Whisk flour, salt, and baking soda in a separate bowl. 
4. Slowly beat flour mixture into shortening mixture to make a smooth dough. 
5. Roll dough out 1/4-inch thick on a floured work surface and cut into shapes. (Round or simple shapes work best).
6. Arrange cookies on baking sheets. 
7. Bake in the preheated oven until cookies are firm, about 10 minutes.
8. Let cool.

Directions (Icing)
1. Beat butter, confectioners' sugar, 1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract, and 2 tablespoons milk in a bowl with an electric mixer on high speed until frosting is spreadable and slightly fluffy.
2. Frost cooled cookies.