Ingredients:

  • 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened (226g)
  • ½ cup granulated sugar (100g)
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour (240g)
  • ¼ teaspoon fine sea salt
  • Coarse sugar for sprinkling (optional)

Instructions:

  1. In a mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy. Avoid overmixing!
  2. Gradually add the flour and salt to the butter mixture, mixing on low speed (or by hand) until just combined. Be careful not to overmix – you want a crumbly dough.
  3. Gather the dough into a ball. On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough to about ½ inch thickness.
  4. Use cookie cutters to cut out desired shapes. Alternatively, cut into squares or rectangles with a knife.
  5. Carefully transfer the cookies to a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
  6. Chill the shaped cookies in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes. This helps prevent spreading during baking.
  7. Preheat oven to 325°F (160°C).
  8. Use a fork to prick the cookies all over. Sprinkle with coarse sugar, if desired.
  9. Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden brown. Keep a close eye on them!
  10. Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.