Easy Christmas Cookies

Ingredients

• 1 cup (16 tablespoons) unsalted butter, at room temperature
  
  
• 1/2 cup + 1 tablespoon sugar
  
  
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  
  
• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour (see note)
  
  

Directions

[*]Preheat oven to 325°F with a rack in the center.

[*]Cut the butter into small pieces and place it in a large bowl (or the bowl of a stand mixer) with the sugar. Beat on medium speed until lightened in color and fluffy. Add the vanilla extract and beat to incorporate.

[*]Add the flour and stir in gently with a spatula or wooden spoon until incorporated. Gather dough into your hands and squeeze it together until it forms a cohesive dough. Shape into a ball.

[*]Dust work surface and rolling pin with flour and gently roll dough into a 1/4-inch thick disk. Cut into shapes using a cookie cutter. You can re-roll any scraps and use them to make a few more cookies.

[*]Transfer cookies to a cookie sheet lined with parchment and chill in the fridge for 15 minutes to help cookies retain their shape in the oven.

[*]Bake about 12 minutes, until very lightly golden.

[*]Remove from the oven and transfer cookies to a wire rack to cool. Decorate if you like.