The Perfect Sugar Cookie

INGREDIENTS: 1 Cup butter, softened 1 Cup granulated white sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1/2 teaspoon almond extract 1 egg 2 teaspoons baking powder 3 cups all purpose flour

DIRECTIONS: Preheat oven to 350° F. In the bowl of your mixer cream butter and sugar until smooth. Beat in extracts and egg.

In a separate bowl combine baking powder with flour and add a little at a time to the wet ingredients. The dough will be very stiff. If it becomes too stiff for your mixer turn out the dough onto a countertop surface. Wet your hands and finish off kneading the dough by hand.

DO NOT CHILL THE DOUGH. Divide into workable batches, roll out onto a floured surface and cut. You want these cookies to be on the thicker side (closer to 1/4 inch rather than 1/8). Bake at 350 for 6-8 minutes. Let cool on the cookie sheet until firm enough to transfer to a cooling rack.

NOTES: If you must chill the dough just leave it on the countertop for 10 minutes before rolling or work the dough with your hands for a few minutes. You can omit the almond extract if you do not have it available, however the taste is really fantastic with the hint of almond. Keep in mind that the recipe yield will vary according to how thick you roll your cookies and how large or small your cutters are.