Basic Country Butter Cookies

1/2 c Butter or margarine

3/4 c Light brown sugar; packed

1 ts Vanilla extract

1 lg Egg

2 c All-purpose flour

1/2 ts Baking powder

1/4 ts Salt

In large owl with electric mixer at medium speed, beat butter, sugar and vanilla until light and fluffy; beat egg in well. In small bowl combine flour, baking powder and salt; with mixer at low speed, beat into butter mixture to blend well. Flatten dough to disk shape; refrigerate, wrapped in plastic, 30 minutes. Work with one-fourth dough at a time; keep remainder refrigerated. Heat oven to 350~F. Roll dough out to 1/8 or 1/4-inch thickness on lightly floured surface and cut into desired shapes; or, mold in shapes. Place on ungreased cookie sheets, spacing about 1 inch apart; bake 8 to 15 minutes, depending on thickness of dough, until lightly browned. Cool on wire racks. Store in airtight containers. Makes 2 1/2 to 5 dozen cookies, depending on size. Follow basic recipe above, with the variation below: 1. PINK SUGAR CANES: Beat 2 tbsp. seedless raspberry jam and few drops

red food coloring into half dough; after chilling, roll plain and colored dough by heaping teaspoonsful into 6-inch-long ropes. Twist ropes together by twos to form candy canes. Brush lightly with beaten egg white; sprinkle with pink sugar crystals. Bake 8 to 10 minutes. Makes about 8 dozen.
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