Cut-Out Sugar Cookies

2/3 cup Butter 
3/4 cup Sugar 
1 tbsp + 1 tsp Milk 
1 tsp Vanilla 
1 Egg 
2 cups Flour 
1 1/2 tsp Baking Powder 
1/4 tsp Salt 

*Cream butter, sugar, milk and vanilla in a large bowl
at low speed until well blended. Beat in egg. Combine flour,
baking powder and salt. Mix into creamed mixture at low speed
until well blended. Cover and refrigerate a few hours or overnight.
Preheat oven to 375°. Roll out dough, half at a time, on floured
surface to 1/8" thickness. Cut into desired shapes. Place two inches
apart on an ungreased cookie sheet. Sprinkle with colored sugars and
decors or leave plain to frost when cool. Bake 7-9 minutes or until set.
Remove immediately to wire racks to cool completely. 

Makes about 3 dozen cookies. 

Creamy Vanilla Frosting 
Combine 1/2 cup Butter, 4 cups of Icing Sugar, 1/3 cup Milk and
1 tsp **Vanilla in a medium bowl. Beat at low speed of an electric
mixer until well blended. Scrape bowl. Beat at high speed for
two minutes or until smooth and creamy. One or two drops of food color
can be used to tint each cup of frosting. Frost cooled cookies. 

**Substitute other extracts or my fave is mint extract and
3-4 crushed candy canes or other festive colored candy. 

On a personal note 
I use these for all occasions. Valentine's Day you can add
red food coloring to the frosting, and cut the cookies out into hearts.
Halloween, add yellow/red food coloring and make pumpkins! 
Use your imagination.
These are great and can be frozen!
I actually like them better after they have been frozen!

Submitted by: Kelly

From The Parent Site Cook Book
http://theparentsite.com/cookbook/