If you’re planning on some doing some holiday baking, why not make these traditional favorites?  Yes, they do take some time, but they are certainly worth it!  I remember my Grandmother would come at Christmas time bearing tins of thin, crisp cut-out cookies and chocolate chip cookies….Santa’s favorites, so I hear.  This recipe will be worth your while because it makes 5 dozen cookies (depending on your cookie cutter size)!

Rolled Sugar Cookies

1 1/2 cups butter, softened

2 cups sugar

4 eggs

1 tsp. vanilla extract

5 cups all-purpose flour

2 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. salt

1.  Cream butter and sugar together until smooth in a large bowl.  Beat in eggs and vanilla.  Stir in flour, baking powder, and salt.  Chill dough for at least one hour or over night.  I divided the dough into 4 separate balls and covered in Saran Wrap.  I also put them in the freezer for a while to speed up the process.

2.  Preheat oven to 400 degrees (depends on your oven, but I baked mine at 375 instead).  Roll out dough on floured surface (floured wax paper works great) about 1/4 inch thick.  Cut into shapes with cookie cutters.  Place cookies an inch apart on ungreased cookie sheets.

3.  Bake 6 to 8 minutes in preheated oven.  I removed them from the baking sheets right away, then let cool on the counter.

These cookies freeze well…it’s a wise idea to hide them in the freezer anyway or they’ll be gone before you know it.   🙂