Butter Cookies

Yield: about 3 dozen 3" cookies

3 sticks unsalted butter, softened (3/4 lb.)
1 cup granulated sugar
2 tsp vanilla extract
3 1/2 cups all purpose flour
Generous pinch of salt

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with paddle attachment, cream butter and sugar together. Don't over mix! Beat until just incorporated. Add the vanilla and mix again briefly. Sift together flour and salt and add to the butter mixture; mix on low until just combined.

Turn dough out onto a piece of wax paper and top with another sheet of wax paper. Roll into a flattened disk. Chill for 30 minutes. Dust work surface with flour and place dough - wax paper removed - on surface. Roll dough to 1/2" thickness and cut into desired shapes - I used small round fondant cutters, the largest at 3". Place cookies on parchment lined baking sheets. Bake for 15 minutes or until cookies are golden brown and fragrant.

Note: If making small holes in the 3" round cookies as I did, cut the smaller holes just after the cookies come out of the oven.