Roll-Out Cookie Recipe

1 cup butter - softened

1 cup sugar

1 large egg

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 teaspoons baking powder

3 cups flour

Preheat oven to 400ºF.

In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar with electric mixer. Beat in egg and vanilla.

Add baking powder and flour one cup at a time, mixing after each addition. The dough will be very stiff; blend last flour by hand. Do not chill dough. Divide dough into two balls.

On floured surface, roll each ball in a circle approximately 12" in diameter and 1/8" thick. Dip cookie cutters in flour before each use.

Sprinkle on any candy trims before baking.

Bake cookies on ungreased cookie sheet in middle oven rack of oven for 4 to 5 minutes depending on size, or until cookies are lightly browned. Using spatula, remove cookies from cookie sheet and allow to cool on wire rack.

To " paint" mix food color paste with small amount of water. When cookies are cool , use an art brush to paint on color. Or ice and decorate with royal icing.