Instructions: * Note: Its best not to substitute margarine for butter in this recipe.

In a large bowl, beat the butter, sugar, egg, vanilla, and salt. Gradually add the flour; beat until well combined. Refrigerate the dough for 1 hour.

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Separate the dough into 4 pieces, then roll out each piece on a lightly floured surface to a 1/4-inch thickness. Cut or mold the dough into desired shapes.

Place the shapes on ungreased cookie sheets and bake for 8 to 10 minutes, or until light brown.

This recipe yields about 5 dozen. The size of the cookie cutters you use will determine the actual yield.

Comments: This dough is the perfect starting place for almost endless creative cookie possibilities. One idea: Cut it into the shape of letters to make festive sayings, then, before putting the cookies on the baking sheets, sprinkle with colored sugars and poke a hole through each cookie with a drinking straw. That way, you can lace some ribbon through the cookies and hang them up when theyre all done!

For more holiday cookie recipes, see "Candy Cane Cookies" and "Grandmas Spice Cookies".

Yield: 60 cookies

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