Basic Butter Cookie Dough Recipe

Yields: 4 1/2 pounds (about 10 dozen cookies)

Ingredients

• 2 cups butter or margarine, softened

• 1 cup firmly packed brown sugar

• 1 cup sugar

• 2 large eggs

• 7 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

• 4 teaspoons baking powder

• 1 teaspoon salt

• 1/4 cup milk

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

1. Beat butter at medium speed with an electric mixer until fluffy; gradually add sugars, beating well. Add eggs, one at a time, beating after each addition.

2. Combine flour, baking powder, and salt; add to butter mixture alternately with milk, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Beat at low speed after each addition until mixture is blended. Stir in vanilla.

3. Divide dough into 4 equal portions; wrap each portion in plastic wrap to prevent drying out. Chill. Proceed with cookie instructions of choice.

4. Shape the dough into 1-inch balls, and place on lightly greased cookie sheets. Dip a flat-bottomed glass into sugar, and flatten balls to 1/4-inch thickness. Bake at 350° for 10 minutes or until lightly browned. Remove to wire racks to cool.