Basic Butter Cookies
from Gourmet – December 2003
Made December, 2009 in SF.
It’s really nice to bake just a dozen at a time. Then they’re always fresh!

2 c. all-purpose flour

½ tsp baking powder

½ tsp salt

1 ½ sticks (3/4 cup) unsalted butter, softened

1 c. sugar

1 large egg

½ tsp vanilla

Garnish: coarse or sanding sugar

Whisk together flour, baking powder, salt in small bowl.

Beat together butter and sugar in large bowl with mixer until pale and fluffy (about 6 min. with a handheld mixer). Beat in egg and vanilla.

Reduce speed to low, then add flour mixture and mix until just combined.

Form dough into 12 inch log (2 inches in diameter) on a sheet of plastic wrap and roll up dough. Chill dough until firm, at least 4 hours.

Put oven racks in upper and lower thirds of oven and preheat to 375 degrees F.

Cut enough 1/8 to ¼ inch thick slices from log to fill 2 ungreased cookie sheets. If garnishing with sugar, sprinkle it on.

Bake cookies, switching position half way through baking until edges are golden (12 to 15 minutes total). Cool on sheets 3 minutes, then transfer to rack to cool completely.