Ingredients

3 cups all-purpose flour 

3/4 teaspoon baking powder (omit if making thumbprints, ball cookies, or spritz cookies) 

1/2 teaspoon salt 

2 sticks unsalted butter 

1 cup sugar 

1 large egg 

2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract 

Preparation

Whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl. Beat butter and granulated sugar with a mixer on medium-high speed until pale and fluffy. Beat in egg and vanilla. Reduce speed to low. Add flour mixture, and beat until combined. Proceed with variations:Thumbprints and Ball CookiesShaped Icebox CookiesLayered Icebox CookiesGlazed Spritz CookiesCutout Cookies