Easy and Tasty Sugar Cookies

Recipe taken from All Recipes, "Soft Christmas Cookies."

Ingredients

• 3 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup butter, softened
• 1 1/2 cups white sugar
• 2 eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Directions

1. Sift flour, baking powder, and salt together, set aside. In a large bowl, cream together the margarine and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla. Gradually blend in the sifted ingredients until fully absorbed (add about 1 cup at a time). Cover dough, and chill for 2 hours.
2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease cookie sheets. On a clean floured surface, roll out small portions of chilled dough to 1/4 inch thickness (make sure to use enough flour, so the cookies don't stick to the table!). Cut out shapes using cookie cutters.
3. Bake 8-10 minutes in the preheated oven, or until edges are barely brown (or, if you like them more soft and chewy, pull them out when the middle is set). I cooked them for about 9 minutes. Remove from cookie sheets to cool on wire racks.