Rich Rolled Sugar Cookies

Ingredients

• 1/2 pound unsalted butter, softened
• 2/3 cup sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
• 2 1/3 cups AP flour

Method

• Beat butter and sugar with mixer until fluffy and well blended.
• Add the egg, baking powder, salt and vanilla and beat until well combined.
• Stir in the flour.
• Divide the dough in half and roll each out between two sheets of wax paper or parchment paper to 1/4" thick. Place each rolled piece of dough on a baking sheet and place in the refrigerator for about 20-30 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 350F. Place parchment paper on 2 baking sheets. Working with one rolled out portion at a time (keeping the other refrigerated). Cut out the cookies with shapes desired. With a spatula, transfer to baking sheet covered with parchment. Space about 1" apart. Roll out scrapes and keep cutting until all dough is used. If you are not frosting, sprinkle with sugar.

Notes

• Bake 1 sheet at a time, until cookies are lightly golden on top, 6-9 minutes. Rotate sheet half way through baking. Remove the sheet to a rack and let stand until cookies firm slightly. Transfer cookies to rack and cool. SOURCE: Joy of Cooking