Cookie Recipes

Basic cookie recipe
175gm butter, softened
175gm soft brown sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla essence
1 egg
275gm flour
2 teaspoons baking powder 

Cream butter, sugar and vanilla essence together until light and fluffy.  Add egg, beating well.  Sift flour and baking powder into creamed mixture.  Divide into two portions.  Let the dough rest in the fridge for 30 minutes.  Turn out onto a lightly floured board.  Knead lightly.  Roll dough out to 5mm thickness.  Cut out shapes using your cookie cutters.  Place on a greased oven tray.  Bake at 180 deg C for 10-15 minutes or until pale golden.  Makes about 30-35 cookies.

Chocolate cookies - add 2 Tablespoons cocoa when sifting flour
Orange cookies - omit vanilla essence and add 1 teaspoon grated orange rind to creamed mixture
Lemon cookies - omit vanilla essence and add 2 teaspoons grated lemon rind to creamed mixture
Spice cookies - add 2 teaspoons mixed spice when sifting flour
Sultana cookies - fold 1/2 cup sultanas into creamed mixture