I've been trying to find a soft sugar cookie for years that resembles my grandmothers. She didn't leave any written recipes. I hope these are it.

You can do the cookies by hand, that's always an option, just cream the butter, shortening and sugar very well and make sure if you rub some between your fingers you can't feel any outstanding sugar crystals. You can get the bowl at any KitchenAid store, along with the mixer, but don't hold me to that because the one I have I got quite a while back. You don't NEED shortening but it's recommended for a soft cookie, and if you don't use vanilla extract it will taste very off - try your best to follow the recipe exactly the first time and then make adjustments depending on what you think it needs afterward.

do you have to use a stand mixer?? Can you do these cookies by hand, or does the stand mixer beat in more air and help make the cookies softer???