Shelbis Pig Butter Cookies

• 3 3/4 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for work surface
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 3/4 cups unsalted butter, softened
• 1 1/4 cups confectioners sugar
• 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• Coarse pink decorating sugar (optional)

1. Sift together the flour and salt onto a sheet of parchment paper on your work surface.
2. Place the butter in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, and beat on medium-high speed until fluffy and light, about 2 minutes.
3. Add the sugar and vanilla, and mix until combined.
4. Reduce the speed to low, and slowly add the flour and salt to the butter-and-sugar mixture, mixing until the batter is smooth.
5. Turn the dough out onto a sheet of plastic wrap.
6. Cut the dough into quarters, and wrap each quarter in plastic, then chill in the refrigerator for 2 hours.
7. When youre ready to bake the cookies, preheat the oven to 350F.
8. Line two 9 x 13-inch baking sheets with parchment paper.
9. Using a rolling pin dusted with flour, roll out one of the dough quarters (keeping the others refrigerated until you need them), on a lightly floured work surface, to a 1/4- to 1/8-inch thickness.
10. Cut the cookies into the desired shapes, then use a metal spatula to transfer the cookies to one of the prepared baking sheets (the cookies should be about 1 1/2 inches apart).
11. Sprinkle the cookies with decorating sugar, if desired.
12. Repeat with remaining dough, and bake the cookies until they are lightly golden, about 8 minutes.
13. Cool briefly in the pan, then use a metal spatula to transfer the cookies to a wire rack to cool completely.

flour, salt, unsalted butter, confectioners sugar, vanilla, pink decorating sugar

Taken from www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/shelbi-s-pig-butter-cookies-375353 (may not work)