INGREDIENTS

• 1 cup (2 sticks) softened butter
• ¾ cup sugar
• 1 egg
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
• 2 1/2 cups flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• Extra dark chocolate for dipping (I use 70% dark)
• Chocolate and/or rainbow sprinkles for decorating

DIRECTIONS

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• In a mixing bowl, cream together the butter and sugar, then add the egg and vanilla and beat until smooth.
• In another bowl, whisk the flour, baking powder, and salt.
• Mix this flour mixture into the other ingredients, without overmixing it.
• Roll dough between 2 sheets of wax paper until 1/4 of an inch thick.
• Use cookie cutter of choice to form cookies.
• Place cookies on a parchment paper-lined cookie sheet.
• Bake for 10 to 15 minutes, until the cookies are golden.
• Let the cookies cool.

For chocolate dipped cookies

• Melt the chocolate in a double boiler. Dip the cookie halfway in melted chocolate.  Place on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper.  Sprinkle with chocolate sprinkles and let cool.

For sprinkled cookies

• Mix 1 1/2 cup of confectioner sugar with 2 tablespoons of milk to make icing. Spread small amount of icing on cookie.  Place sprinkles on a flat plate.  Press iced cookie into sprinkles.

Photography by Maria Stelmach