Last year, I took a cookie-making class at the CIA.  We learned some basic techniques and wonderful recipes for holiday cookies.  This basic cookie dough is the basis for many different holiday cookies, including the decorated snowflakes and snowmen that I make every year and the CIA's famous Pecan Sandies.

1-2-3 Cookie Dough

Courtesy of the Culinary Institute of America

Ingredients

• 1lb Sugar
• 2lb Butter
• 4 Eggs
• ½ teaspoon Orange Zest
• 2 teaspoons Vanilla Extract
• 1 pinch Salt
• 3 lbs Cake flour, sifted

Directions:

• Cream the butter and sugar together until smooth and light.  Leave stand mixer on for at least five full minutes – make sure to cream very well.
• Gradually add eggs (one at a time) and flavoring, scraping the bowl as necessary.
• Add flour and mix just until incorporated (do not over mix).

Now, at this point, you can refrigerate the dough or begin making cookies with it right away.