My mother and I used to bake bunches of these up before Christmas. When we were all younger, Mom spread newspapers all across the kitchen table and as a family we sang Christmas Caroles and painted and decorated these cookies for the Christmas holidays. I asked my mother where this recipe came from and she said her grandmother. After I grew up and took an interest in baking from scratch I put back into this recipe, real butter, fresh ground flour, sea salt etc. Simply put more natural ingredients. My mother commented that my cookies tasted just like her grandmothers. So thank you grandma Weinkauf.
Sift or mix dry ingredients, except sugar. Set aside.
Add dry ingredients alternating with milk and mixture. Stir only until ingredients are mixed.
Chill dough for one hour in refrigerator.
Roll out small portions of dough at a time on a lightly floured board. Cut with a 2" floured cookie cutter.
Bake on ungreased sheets (or use Silpat® pads) in preheated oven at 325 degrees Fahrenheit about 9 minutes.