Classic Butter Cookies

1. Cream Butter and Sugar

Cream the softened unsalted butter and sugar together using a mixer until the mixture becomes light in color and fluffy.

2. Add Wet Ingredients

Beat in the vanilla extract, salt, and optional lemon zest. Add the room-temperature egg and milk, ensuring everything is well combined.

3. Incorporate Flour

Gently stir in the unbleached all-purpose flour just until it's incorporated to maintain the tender crumb of the cookies.

4. Chill the Dough

Shape the dough into logs, wrap them in plastic wrap, and chill in the refrigerator for about 2 hours. Alternatively, freeze the dough for up to 2 months.

5. Slice and Prepare for Baking

After chilling, slice the dough into 1/4 inch thick slices. If rolling out for cut cookies, chill the dough again for 20-30 minutes before rolling it out to a thickness of 1/4 inch on parchment paper.

6. Bake the Cookies

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Transfer the sliced cookies onto lined baking sheets, spacing them 2 inches apart. Bake for about 10 minutes or until they turn a golden color.

7. Cool and Decorate

Let the cookies cool before decorating. Optionally, use frosting tools to add a personal touch or sprinkle granulated sugar or ground almonds on top before baking for added flavor.