Instructions

1. Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 175°C (350°F). Line baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats.
2. Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy. You can use a hand mixer or a stand mixer for this step.
3. Add Vanilla: Mix in the vanilla extract until well combined. If you're using salted butter, you can omit the optional salt. If you're using unsalted butter, add the salt at this stage.
4. Incorporate Flour: Gradually add the flour to the butter mixture, mixing until a dough forms. You may need to use your hands to knead the dough slightly to ensure all the flour is incorporated.
5. Shape Cookies: You can shape the cookies using a cookie press, piping bag fitted with a star tip, or by rolling the dough into small balls and flattening them with a fork. Create your desired shapes and arrange them on the prepared baking sheets.
6. Optional Sugar Dusting: If desired, you can sprinkle a little granulated sugar on top of the cookies before baking for extra sweetness and texture.
7. Bake: Place the baking sheets in the preheated oven and bake the cookies for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden brown.
8. Cool and Serve: Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheets for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. Once cooled, serve and enjoy!

This recipe will yield a batch of delightfully buttery and crisp cookies, perfect for enjoying with a cup of tea or coffee or gifting to friends and family. Remember, the quality of butter will significantly impact the flavor, so it's best to use the best you can find. Happy baking!