Basic Ice Box Cookie With Variations

Total Time: 18 mins Preparation Time: 10 mins Cook Time: 8 mins

Ingredients

• 1 cup butter, softened
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 3 cups flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

Recipe

• 1 in a large mixing bowl, beat together butter and sugar until fluffy. stir in eggs and vanilla; mix well.
• 2 stir together flour, baking soda and salt, then add to butter mixture, mixing until thoroughly combined.
• 3 divide dough in half and place each half on a piece of plastic wrap. shape into a log about 2½ inches in diameter and wrap tightly. refrigerate for at least 2 hours until firm.
• 4 to prepare cookies, preheat oven to 400°f slice dough thinly and place on lightly greased baking sheets. bake for 8 to 10 minutes or until lightly browned around the edges. transfer cookies to a baking rack to cool. store in an airtight container.
• 5 alternatives: lemon: sub lemon extract for vanilla and add 2 tsp finely grated lemon zest.
• 6 cherry: sub cherry extract for vanilla and add 1/2 cup finely chopped dried cherries or dried craisins.
• 7 nut: add 1/2 cup finely chopped pecans or walnuts.
• 8 chocolate: stir in 2 squares melted semisweet chocolate.