This is a family favorite and is one of the first cookies I learned how to bake. We make them for all kinds of holidays: Christmas, Valentine's Day, etc. using a variety of cookie cutters.
Old Fashioned Sugar Cookies
½ cup butter, softened
1 cup sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
½ cup milk
3 cups flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
Pinch of salt
Cream butter in a large bowl. Add sugar and continue to cream. Add egg and vanilla, beat well. Combine dry ingredients and add alternately to mixture with milk. Chill. Roll dough on a floured board at least ¼ inch thick. Cut dough into desired shapes. Bake at 375º for 10-12 minutes until bottoms are lightly browned. Frost after cooled.
Frosting:
1 lb. powdered sugar
¼ teaspoon salt
¼ cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
½ cup butter, softened
In a bowl combine all ingredients. Beat well until smooth and creamy. Scrape sides of the bowl often. It frosting is too stiff to spread easily beat in a few drops of milk.