Sugar Cookies

Everyone has their favorite sugar cookie recipe, but here is my go to!

Ingredients:

• 3 cups King Arthur Unbleached All-Purpose Flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter
• 1 1/4 cups sugar
• 1/4 cup cream cheese* (only if you want puffy cookies - for flatter ones leave out)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/4 teaspoon almond extract
• 1 large egg

Directions:

1. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
2. In a large bowl, cream together the butter, sugar, and cream cheese (if you're using it) until light and fluffy.
3. Beat in the vanilla and almond extracts, and the egg; scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl.
4. Add the flour mixture, and mix at low to medium speed until the mixture is evenly moistened.
5. Roll out dough to be about 1/4" thick and cut out with your favorite cookie cutter.  Note you might have to put the dough in the refrigerator to cool off for 15-20 minutes before you roll it out. 
6. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes — 10 minutes for softer cookies, 12 minutes for crunchier. The edges of the cookies will just barely begin to brown.
7. Remove from the oven and cool on the pan for 5 minutes, before transferring to a rack to finish cooling completely.
8. Decorate to your heart's content.