Ingredients:

  • 1 cup (2 sticks, 227g) unsalted butter, softened
  • ⅔ cup (133g) granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 teaspoon (5ml) vanilla extract
  • 2 ½ cups (300g) all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
  • ¼ teaspoon (1.5g) salt
  • Sprinkles, colored sugars, melted chocolate, etc. (optional)

Instructions:

  1. In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy (about 3-5 minutes).
  2. Beat in the egg and vanilla extract until well combined. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed.
  3. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour and salt.
  4. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed until just combined. Be careful not to overmix.
  5. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes (or up to 2 hours).
  6. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats.
  7. On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough to about ¼-inch thickness. Use cookie cutters to cut out shapes, or transfer dough to a piping bag fitted with a decorative tip and pipe desired shapes directly onto the baking sheets.
  8. If desired, decorate the cookies with sprinkles or colored sugar before baking.
  9. Bake for 8-12 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden brown.
  10. Let the cookies cool on the baking sheets for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
  11. Once cooled, you can drizzle with melted chocolate or frost them with royal icing.
  12. Enjoy!