Classic Vanilla Cut Out Cookies

A classic vanilla cookie recipe perfect for cut-out shapes, ideal for decorating.

By @karenthibakes

Original recipe source

Cook time: 12 minutes

Servings: 14

Ingredients

• 1 cup unsalted butter
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 large egg
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 0.25 tsp baking powder
• 1 tbsp cornstarch
• 0.5 tsp salt
• 2.75 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tbsp all-purpose flour
• 0 dough
• 0 dough
• 0 dough
• 0 cookies
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• 0 microplane
• 0 hand mixer

Instructions

1. Beat the unsalted butter and sugar together for 1 minute or just until combined.
2. Add the egg, vanilla extract, baking powder, cornstarch, and salt to the butter and sugar mixture. Mix until combined.
3. Gradually add the all-purpose flour on low speed until the dough comes together and starts forming a ball in the center. Some sticking to the sides is OK.
4. Wrap the dough and freeze for at least 1 hour.
5. Thaw the dough for 1–2 hours before rolling.
6. Roll the dough to ⅜ inch (1 cm) thick, cut shapes, and freeze for 10–15 minutes before baking.
7. Bake the cookies at 350°F (177°C) for 11–12 minutes.
8. Check on your cookies at the 7-minute mark to see if they’re holding their shape. If they have misshapen slightly, remove them from the oven, use a straight edge to nudge them back into shape, and pop them back into the oven.
9. Use a microplane to reshape the cookies if needed.
10. You can use a hand mixer. If mixing becomes too difficult once all the flour is in, finish mixing by hand.