Step 1

With the back of a large spoon in a medium mixing bowl or with a mixer, beat the butter with the sugar, salt, and vanilla until smooth and creamy but not fluffy, about 1 minute with the mixer.

Step 2

Add the flour and mix just until incorporated.

Step 3

Scrape the dough into a mass and knead it with your hands a few times just until smooth.

Step 4

For slice-and-bake cookies, form a 12 X 2-inch log. For rolled and cut cookies, form 2 flat patties. Wrap and refrigerate the dough for at least 2 hours, preferably overnight. The dough may be frozen for up to 3 months.

Step 5

Preheat the oven to 350F. Position the racks in the upper and lower thirds of the oven.

Step 6

To slice and bake cookies, use a sharp knife to cut the cold dough log into slices 1/4" thick. Place cookies at least 1+1/2 inches apart on cookie sheets.

Step 7

To roll and cut cookies, remove 1 patty from the refrigerator and let it sit at room temperature until supple enough to roll but still quite firm. It will continue to soften as you work.

Step 8

Roll the dough between two pieces of wax paper or between heavy plastic sheets from a plastic bag to the thickness of 1/4" inch. Turn the dough over once or twice while you are rolling it out to check for deep wrinkles; if necessary, peel off and smooth the paper or plastic over the dough before continuing to roll it. When the dough is thin enough, peel off the top sheet of paper or plastic and keep it in front of you. Invert the dough onto that sheet and peel off the second sheet.

Step 9

Cut cookie shapes as close together as possible to minimize scraps, dipping the edges of the cookie cutters in flour as necessary to prevent sticking. Use the point of a pairing knife to lift and remove scraps as you transfer cookies to cookie sheets.

Step 10

Place cookies at least 1+1/2" apart on cookie sheets.

Step 11

If dough gets too soft at any time - while rolling, cutting, removing scraps between cookies, or transferring cookies - slide a cookie sheet underneath the paper or plastic and refrigerate the dough for a few minutes until firm. Repeat with the second piece of dough.

Step 12

Press all of the dough scraps together gently (don't overwork them with too much kneading) and reroll.

Step 13

Bake for 12 to 14 minutes, or until light golden brown at the edges, rotatig the cookie sheets from top to bottom and front to back halfway through the baking time to ensure even baking. Repeat until all the cookies are baked.

Step 14

Let cookies firm up on the pan for about 1 minute before transferring them to a rack with a metal pancake turner.

Step 15

Cool completely before stacking or storing. Cookies are delicious fresh but even better the next day.