Perfect Cut-Out Cookie Dough

Ingredients

• 6 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 0.5 cups confectioners' sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1.5 cups all-purpose flour
• 0.5 teaspoons baking powder
• 0.5 teaspoons salt

Instructions

1. 1

   Beat butter and sugar with an electric mixer in a large bowl until smooth. Blend egg and vanilla extract into the butter mixture.

2. 2

   Stir flour, baking powder, and salt together in a bowl; mix into the butter mixture until just incorporated. Wrap dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 1 hour. Remove from refrigerator and let the dough warm to room temperature.

3. 3

   Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

4. 4

   Roll dough out onto a flat surface to about 1/4 inch in thickness. Cut dough into shapes with cookie cutters; arrange onto baking sheets.

5. 5

   Bake cookies until firm in the center, but not yet browning, 8 to 12 minutes. Let cool briefly on baking sheet before transferring to a cooling rack to cool completely.