Classic Sugar Cookies

Ingredients

Unsalted butter

1 cup, softened

Granulated sugar

1 1/2 cups

Egg

1 large

Vanilla extract

1 teaspoon

All-purpose flour

2 3/4 cups

Baking powder

1 teaspoon

Salt

1/2 teaspoon

Instructions

1. In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened unsalted butter and granulated sugar using an electric mixer on medium speed until the mixture is light and fluffy, about 3-5 minutes.
2. Beat in the egg and vanilla extract, mixing until well combined.
3. In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt until evenly mixed.
4. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing on low speed until just combined. Be careful not to overmix.
5. Divide the dough in half and shape each half into a disk. Wrap each disk in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour to firm up the dough.
6. Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
7. On a lightly floured surface, roll out one disk of chilled dough to about 1/4-inch thickness. Use cookie cutters to cut out desired shapes and carefully transfer them to the prepared baking sheets.
8. Bake in the preheated oven for 8-10 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden. Keep an eye on them as they can bake quickly.
9. Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheets for a few minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.
10. Once cooled, decorate the cookies with icing or sprinkles as desired, and enjoy the delightful sweetness!