Cinnamon Roll Cookies

I've only made these twice, but I LOVE them! They're a little bit more difficult to make, because you have to roll the dough like a jelly roll, but they are well worth it, believe me. I got the recipe from my Old-Fashioned Bake Sale cookbook.

Cinnamon Roll Cookies

Cinnamon Mixture
4 tablespoons sugar
1 tablespoon cinnamon

Cookie Dough
1 cup/stick butter flavored shortening (I used margarine accidentally, and it works great)
1 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
3 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

For cinnamon mixture, combine sugar and 1 tablespoon cinnamon in a small bowl; mix well. Set aside.
For cookie dough, combine shortening and brown sugar in a large bowl. Beat at medium speed with electric mixer until well blended. Beat in eggs and vanilla until well blended. Combine flour, baking powder, salt, and 1 teaspoon cinnamon in a small bowl. Add to creamed mixture; mix well.
Turn dough onto sheet of waxed paper. Spread into 3x6-inch rectangle using rubber spatula. Sprinkle with 4 tablespoons cinnamon mixture to within 1 inch of edge. Slowly roll up jelly-roll style into log. (If dough cracks, smooth with fingers while rolling.) Dust log with remaining cinnamon mixture. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap; refrigerate 4 hours or overnight.
Heat oven to 375 degrees F. Spray cookie sheets with cooking spray.
Slice dough 1/4 inch thick. Place on prepared cookie sheets. Bake at 350 degrees for 8 minutes or until lightly browned on top. Cool on cookie sheets 4 minutes; transfer to cooling racks.
*makes about 5 dozen cookies