Traditional Sugar cookies

These easy cookies are perfect for any gathering no matter the season or holiday!

Ingredients:
1 ½ sticks of butter (or ¾ cups of shortening if you prefer)
1 cup of sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon of vanilla
2 ½ cups of all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt.

Instructions:
Step 1: Begin by melting the butter in the microwave until it is soft.
Step 2: Next thoroughly mix your butter, sugar, eggs, and vanilla. (I used a stand mixer for this)
Step 3: After that is mixed add your flour, baking powder and salt to the bowl and mix again until it is thoroughly mixed all the way. (You might need to turn off the mixer and scrape down the sides and then turn it on again to make sure everything gets mixed.)
Step 4: Cover your bowl with plastic wrap or a lid and place in the refrigerator for 1 hour. (it can be in there longer than an hour but it needs to at least chill for 1 full hour.)
Step 5: heat your oven to 400 degrees.
Step 6: Clean your counter and spread a light layer of flour on it.
Step 7: Roll out your dough until it is ⅛ inch thick. (it doesn’t need to be exact, just whatever looks good.)
Step 8: Using the cookie cutter(s) of your choice, begin to cut as many cookies as you can from that layer. You can gather up the extra dough and re-roll and cut it. (Optional: put sprinkles on the tops of the cookies before baking them.)
Step 9: Place the cut out cookies on an ungreased baking sheet. (I prefer to place a parchment sheet on a tray and lay the cookies on that.)
Step 10: Place in the oven and bake for 6-8 minutes until they are very light brown. (depending on the oven it may cook faster or slower so make sure to check them before the time is up.)
Step 11: let cool for a few minutes and enjoy!