2 cups (4 sticks) butter, softened
1 ½ cups sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
5 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
Ala Julia Child, this recipe is CHOCK FULL OF BUTTER! Still, it is a favorite of mine around the holidays because it is when I can use my antique cookie cutters to my heart’s content.
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Cream butter and sugar in a large mixing bowl until light and fluffy.
Beat in eggs and vanilla. Combine flour, baking powder, and salt in another bowl. Gradually add this to the butter mixture and mix well.
Divide dough in fourths (4 balls).
Roll-out one ball of dough at a time on a lightly floured surface to 1/8 inch thick. Keep remaining dough refrigerated. Cut into desired shapes with a floured cookie cutter (to keep the dough from sticking). Place 1” apart on an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 375 degrees F. for 6 to 8 minutes or until LIGHTLY browned.
Transfer cookies to a wire rack to cool (I like to bake them on a piece of PARCHMENT PAPER, which I easily slide off the pan and onto the rack or counter). Decorate. Yields about two dozen cookies, depending on how big the cutters. Serve up to your favorite hero, preferably one who works to protect our community for 24 hours a day, 7 days a week!
Nancy Lee Badger