Basic Cookie Dough

A terrific all purpose dough that can be turned into a variety of cookies, rolled, dropped and shaped.

• 3 &  1/3  cups all purpose flour
  
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  
• 1 teaspoon salt
  
• 1 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
  
• 1 cup granulated sugar
  
• 1/2 cup packed dark brown sugar
  
• 2 eggs
  
• 1 teaspoon vanilla

1. Sift flour, baking powder and salt onto wax paper.
   
2. Combine butter, sugar, and brown sugar and beat with a mixer until well combined.  Beat in eggs and vanilla.  Gradually add flour mixture and beat until evenly blended.  Dough can be wrapped in plastic wrap and refrigerated up to 3 days.  Makes about 4 cups dough.

Peanut cookies:

• 2 cups Basic Cookie Dough
  
• 1 egg white
  
• 1 cup honey roasted peanuts finely chopped.

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees 
   
2. Shape dough into 32 balls.
   
3. Line cookie sheets with parchment paper or foil that you have sprayed lightly with pan spray.  Spread peanuts on waxed paper.   Working with a few balls at a time, roll in egg white and coat with peanuts.  Arrange 1 & 1/2 inches apart on cookie sheets.
   
4. Bake 10 minutes or until edges are golden.  Let cool on cookie sheet 3 minutes.  Transfer cookies to wire rack to cool completely.  Makes 32 cookies.