Valentine’s Day Sugar Cookies

Makes 2 dozen (24) cookies

2¼ cups all-purpose flour

½ teaspoon baking powder

¼ teaspoon salt

¾ cup (1½ sticks) unsalted butter, softened

¾ cup sugar

1 large egg

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

¼ teaspoon almond extract (optional)

Heart cookie cutter 

1. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt and set aside.
2. In a large bowl, using an electric mixer, beat butter and sugar together on high speed for 2 minutes, until smooth and creamy. Add egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract (if using) and beat on high speed for 1 minute, until combined.
3. Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients and mix on low speed until combined.
4. Divide dough in half. Flour countertop and roll out each piece of dough to one-quarter-inch thickness.
5. Lightly dust rolled dough with flour, place a piece of parchment paper on top of one, and stack other on top of parchment.
6. Cover dough with plastic wrap and chill in refrigerator for a minimum of 2 hours (chilling overnight is recommended for best results).
7. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line two cookie sheets with parchment paper.
8. Remove dough from refrigerator and separate from parchment paper. Flour countertop and use cookie cutters to cut and shape dough. Once cut, place shapes 3 inches apart on cookie sheets. Use a rolling pin to reroll dough and continue to cut shapes until all dough is used.
9. Bake for 11 to 12 minutes, until edges are lightly browned. Cool on cookie sheets for 5 minutes before transferring to wire rack to cool completely.
10. Decorate cooled cookies with icing or colored sprinkles. Add food coloring to white icing and have fun!