Basic Vanilla Refrigerator Cookies (with variations)

My mom made dozens and dozens of cookies of all varieties, every year at Christmas. Us kids would give her a helping hand, but we very may well have gotten underfoot. I thoroughly enjoyed it, because it meant spending time with our mother and was something I looked forward to. 

This is a basic cookie that you can then choose to add different ingredients to flavor them. What I remember making most often, are the Spice Cookies. We would press in  several  red hot cinnamon candies, to amp up the flavor. I loved these cookies when I was a kid. This recipe brings back a lot of memories, and I can't wait to try it again.

Basic Cookies

2/3 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup granulated sugar

1/2 cup brown sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 egg

2 cups flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

Using an electric mixer, cream the butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Add the egg and vanilla and beat until smooth. In a separate bowl, combine the flour, baking powder and salt and beat until mixed together. Divide the dough in half on sheets of waxed paper. Roll each half into a cylinder shape, about 1 1/2 inches in diameter.  Wrap each half in waxed paper and chill until firm, at least two hours. 

Heat oven to 425 degrees and cut rolled cookie dough, about 1/4" thick and place on ungreased cookie sheets, about 1" apart. Bake 425 degrees for 5-7 minutes, until light golden brown. Immediately remove from the cookie sheet and set onto a wire rack, to let cool completely. Store in a covered container. 

Makes 60-72 cookies

Notes

The rolled cookie dough will keep in the refrigerator for up to two weeks, or in the freezer, for up to 6 weeks. To bake from frozen state, follow the same directions above. May need to thaw slightly, or bake a little longer.

Variations

1. Spice Cookies  

To the flour, add:

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

1/2 teaspoon ground cloves

2. Lemon or Orange Cookies

To the flour, add:

1 teaspoon of grated peel (using an microplane) of either fresh lemon or fresh orange

3. Coconut Cookies

Add 1 cup coconut at the end

Note: If using the spiced cookie variation, before baking, top each cookie with several of red hot cinnamon candies (see photo below). Bake as directed.