Best Sugar Cookies

These are our favorite for years, handsdown. I make them every year, at least twice a year. The dough rolls well and can handle little kids rolling and re-rolling!
1 1/2 cups butter, softened

2 cups white sugar

4 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

5 cups all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon salt


Directions
1. In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar until 
   smooth. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Stir in the flour, baking 
   powder, and salt. Cover, and chill dough for at least one hour 
   (or overnight).
2. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Roll out 
   dough on floured surface 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick. Cut into 
   shapes with any cookie cutter. Place cookies 1 inch apart on 
   ungreased cookie sheets.
3. Bake 6 to 8 minutes in preheated oven. Cool completely.

I often use different flavourings, such as orange or almond extract to give the cookies a different flavour.