Instructions: MAKES 2 TO 3 DOZEN

Cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add egg yolks, flour, salt, and vanilla. Mix well.

Fill cookie press with dough and shape fancy cookies on an ungreased baking sheet. Brush the top of each cookie with the egg whites, beaten slightly with a little water. Decorate or leave plain.

Bake in a preheated 4OO degree oven until the cookies are golden brown on top and done throughout. Test one. Thin cookies take 5 to 6 minutes; thick ones 8 to 15 minutes. Cool slightly, then remove with spatula. When cool, store in airtight container.

Notes: Martha says that this is a very good buttery dough for the cookie press. "I especially like to make Christmas-tree shaped cookies or star- or heart-shaped cookies. Sometimes I will stick two cookies together with melted chocolate."

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