Ingredients:

  • 1 cup (227g) unsalted butter, softened but cool
  • 1 cup (200g) granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg, room temperature
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 3 cups (375g) all-purpose flour, spooned and leveled
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup (120g) powdered sugar
  • 2 tablespoons milk
  • 1 teaspoon light corn syrup

Instructions:

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). In a large bowl, beat the cool butter and granulated sugar together until combined. Do not over-aerate; the mixture should be pale but not excessively fluffy. Add the egg and vanilla extract, beating until just incorporated.
  2. Sift the flour, baking powder, and salt directly into the wet ingredients. Set mixer to the lowest setting and mix until the dough starts to clump together and pulls away from the sides of the bowl. The dough should feel like soft play-dough and not be sticky.
  3. Dust a clean surface with a small amount of flour. Roll the dough to 1/4-inch thickness. Use cookie cutters to stamp out shapes, dipping the cutter in flour between every cut to ensure a clean release.
  4. Place the cutouts onto parchment-lined baking sheets. Bake for 8 minutes. The cookies should be set but not browned to maintain their soft texture. Allow to cool before applying the optional glossy glaze.