Sugar Cookie

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). This ensures your oven is nicely hot when you’re ready to bake the cookies.
2. In a large mixing bowl, use an electric mixer to cream together 1 cup of softened unsalted butter and 1 cup of sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy. This will take about 2-3 minutes.
3. Add 1 large egg and 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract to the butter and sugar mixture. Beat until well combined.
4. In a separate bowl, whisk together 2 3/4 cups of all-purpose flour, 1/2 teaspoon of baking powder, and 1/4 teaspoon of salt.
5. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed until just combined. The dough should begin to form a ball and pull away from the sides of the bowl.
6. Lightly flour a surface and roll out the dough to about 1/4 inch thick. If the dough is too sticky, you can chill it in the refrigerator for a few minutes.
7. Use cookie cutters to cut out your desired shapes and place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
8. Bake in the preheated oven for about 8-10 minutes, or until the edges begin to turn a light golden color.
9. Remove from the oven and allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for about 2 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.