2 1/2 cups all purpose flour 1/2 tsp baking powder 1 cup unsalted butter (two sticks) at room temperature 1 cup granulated sugar 1 large egg 1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract mixing bowl with paddle attachment cookie sheets rolling pin cookie cutters medium mixing bowl and fork measuring cups and spoons

Set out the butter for 45 minutes to get to room temperature.
in a medium mixing bowl whisk together flour, baking powder and salt.
in your electric mixer with paddle, mix together butter and sugar until well combined scraping the bowl as you go.
mix in egg an vanilla until well combined, scraping the bowl .
add in the flour mixture until well combined, scraping the bowl down .
divide dough in to two equal portions cover the one not being used and set aside.
roll out both pieces of the dough between two pieces of parchment paper and add to a cookie sheet and put in the refrigerator for 1 hour.
preheat the oven to 350 f, take out the first cookie dough sheet and cut out desired shapes with cookie cutters, bake 9-12 minutes or until golden brown, let sit for 5 minutes than add to cooling rack.
Repeat with the rest of the dough.
store in airtight container for two weeks.