Preparing the Dough

• In a large bowl, use an electric mixer to beat the softened butter and granulated sugar together until the mixture is light and fluffy. This should take about 3-5 minutes.
• Beat in the egg and vanilla extract until well combined.
• In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt.
• Gradually add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture, mixing on low speed until just combined. Be careful not to overmix.

Chilling the Dough

• Divide the dough into two portions. Wrap each portion in plastic wrap.
• Chill the dough in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour, or until it is firm enough to roll out.

Baking the Cookies

• Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
• On a lightly floured surface, roll out one portion of the dough to about 1/4-inch thickness.
• Use a cookie cutter to cut out your desired shapes and place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
• Roll out the second portion of dough and cut out more shapes, placing them on another lined baking sheet.
• Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden.
• Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.

Arrange and Serve