1 c. butter, softened
1 c. sugar
1 lg. egg
1 tsp. vanilla
2 tsp. baking powder
3 c. flour

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. In a large bowl cream butter and sugar with an electric mixer. Beat in egg and vanilla. Add baking powder and flour one cup at a time, mixing after each addition. The dough will be very stiff; blend last flour in by hand. Do not chill dough.

Divide dough into 2 balls. On a floured surface, roll each ball in a circle approximately 12 inches in diameter and 1/8 inch thick. Use cutter as guide; dough should be only slightly thinner than cutter. Dip cutters in flour before each use.

Bake cookies on ungreased cookie sheet on top rack of oven for 6-7 minutes, or until cookies are lightly browned.