Bon Appetit's Ultimate All-Butter Christmas Cut-Outs

Now, before I give you this recipe I will say that my mom's sugar cookie recipe is my all-time favorite.  But, we found ourselves with a hankering for cookies and didn't have any Crisco, which my mom's recipe requires.  I found this all-butter recipe from Bon Appetit that is almost as good!  I would definitely recommend it if you don't prefer to use Crisco or just don't have any on hand.  The cookies are thin, crispy, sweet, and will definitely put you in a Christmas mood.  The dough is a little sticky when rolling out, but the cookies held their shape well in the oven.  We went with super bright frosting, but you can decorate these any way you like. Cue the Christmas carols, turn on the lights, and enjoy some cookies!

Bon Appetit's Ultimate All-Butter Christmas Cut-Outs (adapted from Bon Appetit)
Makes 2-3 dozen

3 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for rolling
3/4 tsp kosher salt
1/2 tsp baking powder
1-1/4 cups (2-1/2 sticks) cold unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
1 cup sugar
1 large egg
1 large egg yolk
1 tsp vanilla

1. Whisk together the flour, salt, and baking powder in a small bowl and set aside.
2. Using an electric mixer on high sweet, beat the butter and sugar until well combined, about 3 minutes.  Add the egg, egg yolk, and vanilla, and beat until just combined.  Add the dry ingredients, and stir a few times with a rubber spatula. Then turn on the mixer on low speed and mix until just combined.
3. Divide the dough into two disks, and wrap in plastic wrap.  Chill at least 2 hours.
4. When ready to bake, place racks in the upper and lower thirds of the oven and preheat to 325 degrees.  Line baking sheets with parchment.
5. Let one disk of dough sit at room temperature for about 5 minutes, and then roll out on lightly floured parchment until 1/4-inch thick (or even thinner -- I love thin cookies!).  Cut out shapes and transfer to cookie sheets.
6. Bake 10-15 minutes, depending on size -- check them frequently as they can go from underbaked to burnt in just a minute or two.  Repeat with remaining dough.
7. Cool on wire racks and frost with your favorite icing (I combine powdered sugar, butter, milk, and vanilla, to make mine).