1 stick (1/4 cup) of butter
1 cup sugar
Blend them together.
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 tsp. baking powder or
baking soda - or if you want, mix them.
1 cup flour
Mix
1 cup flour
Mix until you get a cookie-dough consistency. You might have to add more flour, but remember that you'll be using flour on your board when you roll them out.
Knead, then separate the dough into two equal portions and roll them into balls. Then put the balls in the refrigerator for an hour or more to let them set.
Set the oven to 400 degrees. Roll the dough out on a floured board or, if you'd prefer, roll the dough between two sheets of waxed paper. Cut into cookies using either a glass or a cookie cutter and put them in the oven. Check them after five minutes, then keep checking them often until they're done. Sugar cookies bake fast and will burn if they're left in too long.