Sugar Cookies

1 1/2 cups butter, softened
2 cups white sugar
4 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
5 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt

Directions

In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar until smooth. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Stir in the flour, baking powder, and salt. Cover, and chill dough for at least one hour (or overnight).
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Roll out cold dough on floured surface 1/4" thick. Cut into shapes with cookie cutter. Place cookies 1 inch apart on parchment paper (on cookie sheet).
Bake 8-10 minutes in preheated oven. Cool completely.

*The trick to getting the dough rolled out without adding tons of extra flour is to roll out small sections directly from the refrigerator onto a lightly floured surface.

FROSTING:

8oz cream cheese
1/2 c. butter
1 tsp almond flavoring
1 bag powdered sugar
2-3 T half and half (milk works too)

Cream together butter, cream cheese, and almond flavoring. Slowly stir in powdered sugar until it tastes right. Half and half to get the right consistency.