Step 1: Mix Ingredients
1. In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour and salt. Set this bowl aside.
2. In the bowl of a heavy duty mixer, beat the butter and sugar together until fluffy.
3. Whisk the egg, vanilla extract, and brandy or milk together in a separate bowl.
4. Add the egg mixture to the mixed butter and sugar. Beat until blended.
5. Slowly add in the flour mixture.
* - If the mixture becomes too thick for your mixer, add the remaining flour by hand. Knead the dough on a flat surface until all of the flour is incorporated.
6. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for 2 hours.
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Step 2: Bake the Cookies
1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
2. Grease the cookie sheets.
3. Roll out the chilled dough to approximately 1/8-1/4 inch thick on a flat surface lightly dusted with powdered sugar, or a one-third sugar/two-thirds flour mixture.
4. Cut out the dough using your cookie cutters.
* - To keep the cutters from sticking to the dough, spray lightly with cooking spray.
5. Place the cookies on greased cookie sheets.
6. Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 10 to 12 minutes. If your oven heats unevenly, you may wish to rotate the sheets after 5 minutes.
7. The cookies are ready when the edges start to brown, and the cookie is golden; remove the cookies from the oven.
8. Cool on a rack for approximately 2 hours before decorating or freezing.
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Decorating Before You Bake
* If you like, you can decorate your cookies before putting them in the oven. Try one of these pre-baking decorating techniques:
1. Sprinkle sugar on your cookies. Use coarse colored sugar for holiday themes.
2. Place nuts, colored sprinkles or dragees on your cookies.
3. Mix beaten egg yolks with food coloring, and paint your cookies before they go in the oven