3 cups all-purpose flour, sifted
1 teaspoon double-acting baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup butter
3/4 cup sugar
1 egg, unbeaten
2 tablespoons cream or milk
1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
colored sugars, cake decorations or plain sugar

Preheat oven to 400°F.

Sift together flour, baking powder and salt. Cream butter. Gradually add sugar, creaming well. Stir in egg, cream or milk and vanilla extract; mix well. Blend in the dry ingredients gradually. If desired, chill dough 1 hour for easier handling.

Roll out dough on floured surface, one-third at a time, to 1/8-inch thickness. Cut into desired shapes with cookie cutters or pastry wheel. Place on ungreased baking sheets. Sprinkle with colored sugars or cake decorations or plain sugar.

Bake in 400°F oven for 5-8 minutes until delicate golden brown.

For Christmas Trees, bells or other Christmas shapes add a few drops of Red or Green Food Coloring.

For Christmas Silhouettes, add a few drops of Red or Green Food Coloring to half the dough. Leave remaining dough plain. Roll out white dough on floured surface to 1/8-inch thickness. Cut into rounds with 3 or 4-inch cutter. Cut out centers of cookie with a smaller Christmas-shaped cutter. Repeat with colored dough. Transfer white centers to colored rounds and colored centers to white rounds.

MAKES about 7 to 8 dozen.