The BEST Rolled Sugar Cookie EVER!!

 Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups butter, softened to room temperature
• 2 cups white sugar
• 4 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 5 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• Sifted powder sugar for rolling

 Directions

1. In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar until smooth. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Stir in the flour, baking powder, and salt. Cover, and chill dough overnight.
2. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Roll out dough on surface sprinkled with powdered sugar to about 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick. Cut into shapes with any cookie cutter. Place cookies 1 inch apart on ungreased cookie sheets.
3. Bake 6 to 8 minutes in preheated oven or until edges of cookie start to brown. Cool completely. 

Other ideas...  

Add 1/2 cup finely crushed peppermint candy to dough.  Shape into 1 inch balls, then flatten with the tines of a fork using  cross-hatch pattern--like typically seen on peanut butter cookies.  Cook as directed above.  Note:  you'll need to use parchment paper to line cookie sheets for this. 

Cookie Candy Corn...
Divide cookie dough into three parts--or simply make three batches of dough. 

Using past food colors, color one part yellow and another orange.  The last third, leave uncolored.

In a waxed paper lined loaf pan, press yellow dough into the bottom--distributing dough equally.  Press orange dough on top of yellow dough, then press the uncolored dough on top.  Remove pressed dough from pan, cover and chill for 2-3 hours. 

Once chilled, slice dough 1/4 inch to 1/2 inch thick then cut each slice into triangles.  Bake as directed. 

Gather up scraps and gently knead into a ball allowing colors to marbleize, but not blend.  Roll into 1 inch balls.  Roll balls in orange sugar crystals.  Bake as directed.

Got any other ideas?  Please share them!