Preheat oven to 350 line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Cream together butter, shortening, and sugar with an electric mixer.
Add in eggs, vanilla, and instant pudding mix. Continue mixing until thoroughly incorporated.
In a separate bowl stir together flour, baking powder and salt.
Add the flour mixture to the butter mixture a little at a time mixing between additions until all the flour is incorporated.
Using a dough scoop or spoon scoop drop by tablespoonfuls onto the prepared baking sheet, about 2 inches apart.
Bake for 12-15 minutes or until set and lightly golden brown around the edges.
Remove from the oven and allow to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before removing to a cooling rack to cool completely.
Once cookies have cooled, frost with icing.
Notes
This Recipe Can be Doubled: Great recipe for a crowd. Simply increase the ingredients proportionately and make different versions like the ones listed above.
Add Decorations and Sprinkles: Enhance the soft baked cookie with sprinkles and decorations.
Short cut tip: Use this amazing buttercream frosting recipe or alternatively use premade cookie icing like these.
Variation tip: Top with little candies after icing.
Fridge: Remember that if you use buttercream icing you must use right away or store in the fridge or freezer.