1-First Steps: Getting Started Begin by preheating your oven to 180°C (350°F) or 160°C if using a fan setting. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper to keep things tidy and prevent sticking.

2-Mixing the Dough: Next, beat the softened butter and sugar together until they turn creamy, which takes about one minute. Add the egg and vanilla extract, and keep beating until everything blends well. Gradually mix in the flour, baking powder, and salt, starting slow and then beating until the dough gets clumpy.

3-Shaping and Baking: Lightly flour a work surface, scrape out the dough, pat it together, and divide it into two halves. Shape each half into a disc and roll it out to 0.3cm (1/8 inch) for thinner, crispier cookies or 0.6cm (1/4 inch) for thicker, softer ones. Use flour under and over the dough to avoid sticking, then cut shapes with cookie cutters and transfer them to your baking sheets using a knife or spatula.

4-Baking and Cooling: Bake the cookies for about 10 minutes, swapping the trays halfway through to ensure even cooking. They should come out pale golden with edges turning light golden. Let them cool completely on the trays to finish baking, which helps them set just right. This recipe yields around 40 cookies depending on your cutter size and how thick you roll the dough, and it takes about 25 minutes to prepare plus 10 minutes of baking time.