This basic cookie dough is the foundation of endless possibilities. Add nuts, candy, chocolate, flavourings, citrus zest, cereal…whatever your imagination drums up! Shape it into logs and cut before baking, make thumbprints and add jam, roll and cut into circles and sandwich with your favourite filling or keep it plain and make sugar cookie cut outs! This dough freezes very well and can be made ahead and baked fresh for company and is perfect to get the little ones in the kitchen, choosing mix-ins and getting messy with the dough!

• 2 ½ cups all purpose flour 
• 1/2 tsp baking powder 
• 1/2 tsp salt 
• 1 cup good quality butter, softened 
• 3/4 cup sugar 
• 1 egg 
• 1 tsp vanilla 

In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar until fluffy. Add egg and vanilla and mix until combined.  In a medium bowl stir together flour, baking powder and salt, mix in to butter mixture until just combined. Divide dough into desired amounts, freeze as is or now is the time to get creative and mix in your creations, doing so by hand and being careful not to over mix your dough. Once you have everything jazzed up (ps. Don’t forget to write down which is which), you can refrigerate for one hour and then slice, roll, cut out… and bake on parchment lined sheets at 350°F for 6-12 minutes depending on shape and size. Allow to cool on wire racks completely before adding any spreads, fillings, sprinkling with icing sugar etc. 

Some suggestions: 

• Lemon zest, dried cranberries and pistachios 
• Cocoa powder and white chocolate 
• Cocoa cereal 
• Chopped chocolate bars 
• Jam thumbprints 
• Sprinkles 
• Orange zest and almond extract 
• Cocoa powder, mint extract, chocolate and peppermint chocolate bar 

Recipe created by Chef Dany Duguay