#1535 - Fancy Butter Cookies

(by Shirley McNevich)

3 cups softened butter (NO substitutes)
2 1/4 cups white sugar
7 egg yolks
6 1/4 cups flour
1 tsp. baking powder
3 to 4 tsp. vanilla (if using pure vanilla extract, then 2 to 3 tsp.)
3/4 tsp. salt

In a mixer add softened butter and white sugar--beat. Add egg yolks--beat well. Add salt, vanilla and baking powder--beat. Add flour a little at a time--beat. Refrigerate dough (covered) for 1 hour. Remove dough from refrigerator and place some dough into a cookie press/gun--press cookies on to cookies sheets (DO NOT grease the cookie sheets). Bake at 350 degrees for 8-10 minutes. Remove from oven, cool for 1 or 2 minutes, then transfer them on to paper towels to cool. If you wish, once cookies are pressed on to cookie sheets lightly sprinkle holiday colored sugar on each cookie before baking.