Sugar Cookie Cut-Outs

• 1 cup butter or 1 cup margarine, softened
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 3 cups flour
• cocoa powder (optional)
• decorating gel (optional)
• colored crystal sugar (optional)

1. Preheat oven to 400u0b0F.
2. In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar with an electric mixer.
3. Beat in the egg and vanilla.
4. In another bowl, mix together the flour and baking powder.
5. Add the flour/baking powder mixture one cup at a time, mixing after each addition. (The dough will be very stiff; blend the last flour in by hand.).
6. Do NOT chill the dough.
7. Divide dough into 2 balls.
8. On a floured surface, roll each ball into a circle approximately 12 inches in diameter and 1/8 inch thick.
9. Cut cookies into desired shapes, dipping cookie cutters in flour before each use.
10. Decorate with gel and crystal sprinkle decorations, if desired.
11. Bake on ungreased baking sheet on middle rack of oven for 6 to 10 minutes, or until cookies are lightly browned.
12. Cool 2 to 3 minutes before removing and cooling on a baking grid/cooling rack.
13. You can sprinkle cocoa powder on the cookies if desired (looks good if you're making reindeer shaped cookies).
14. Cookies may be frozen in a tightly sealed container for up to 2 months.

butter, sugar, egg, vanilla, baking powder, flour, cocoa, decorating gel, colored crystal sugar

Taken from www.food.com/recipe/sugar-cookie-cut-outs-398329 (may not work)