This is the recipe I use for fancy cut-out cookies at Christmas or Easter, or any other time that special shapes are appropriate.

3/4 c. butter
1 egg
1/2 tsp. baking soda
2 tsp. vanilla
1 1/2 c. sugar
3 c. flour
1/2 tsp. salt
Toppings

Cream butter and sugar; add egg and vanilla. Sift dry ingredients and blend into butter mixture. Wrap in plastic or waxed paper and chill several hours. Roll out thin and cut in shapes. These can be brushed with egg wash and sprinkled with non-pareils or colored sugar before baking at 375 degrees for 10 minutes, or baked and frosted afterwards with colored frosting.