Vanilla Bites

From: Great American Home Baking

Prep Time: 10 minutes, 18-20 minutes baking

Makes 2 dozen cookies

3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) butter, softened
1/4 cup granulated sugar
2 tsp. vanilla extract or almond extract
2 tsp. water
2 cups all-purpose flour

Garnish

1 tbsp. confectioners' sugar or vanilla sugar

PREHEAT oven to 350 degrees.

BEAT together butter and sugar at medium speed until light and fluffy. Beat in vanilla and water. Beat in flour until smooth.

ON a floured surface, using a floured rolling pin, roll dough to a 1/2 inch thickness. Using a 1 inch round cookie cutter, cut out cookies. Gather trimmings, re-roll and cut our more cookies.

PLACE cookies 1 inch apart on an ungreased baking sheet.

BAKE until set and golden, about 18-20 minutes. Transfer cookies to a wire rack to cool. Sprinkle with sugar.

I made these for Christmas last year. I was able to freeze the dough for a couple of weeks before cutting and baking, but I cut them too thin. Because of that they were very crunchy. I like my cookies soft. So, if I make these again, I will (1) cut them thicker and (2) color the dough to shake it up a bit.