Holiday Butter Cookies

🥘 Ingredients

• all-purpose flour
  2.75 c
• confectioners' sugar
  1.25 c
• egg yolk
  1 large
• salted butter
  18 Tbsp
• table salt
  1/2 tsp
• vanilla extract
  1 tsp

🍳 Cookware

• large bowl
• plastic wrap
• lightly floured surface
• cookie cutters
• parchment-lined baking sheets
• wire rack

1. 1

   Preheat the oven to {350%°F}.
2. 2

   In a large bowl , beat salted butter (255 g) (room temperature) and confectioners' sugar (142 g) until smooth.

   salted butter: 18 Tbsp, confectioners' sugar: 1.25 c
3. 3

   Add egg yolk , table salt , and vanilla extract (or almond extract, or Fiori di Sicilia). Beat until smooth.

   egg yolk: 1 large, table salt: 1/2 tsp, vanilla extract: 1 tsp
4. 4

   Add all-purpose flour (330 g) and mix until smooth. The mixture will seem dry at first but will suddenly come together.

   all-purpose flour: 2.75 c
5. 5

   Divide the dough in half, shape each half into a flattened disk, and wrap in plastic wrap . Refrigerate for at least {2%hours} (or overnight).
6. 6

   Remove the dough from the refrigerator and let it soften for 20 to ⏱️ 30 minutes until it's pliable enough to roll.
7. 7

   On a lightly floured surface , roll the dough 1/8" to 3/16" thick. Cut into shapes with cookie cutters .
8. 8

   Place the cookies on ungreased or parchment-lined baking sheets . They can be close together as they barely spread.
9. 9

   Bake the cookies for 12 to ⏱️ 14 minutes until they're set and barely browned around the edges.
10. 10

    Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for {5%minutes} before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
11. 11

    When cool, ice and decorate as desired.