• 1 cup butter, softened
• 2 cups sugar
• 4 eggs
• 4 cups flour
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• 1 tsp. cream of tartar

Preparation -
Mix the butter, sugar, and eggs together and beat for about 2 minutes. Combine the dry ingredients. Add the dry mixture to the butter mixture and blend well to form a cookie dough. Wrap in waxed paper and refrigerate for 6 to 8 hours or overnight. On a floured pastry cloth, roll a portion of the dough and to about 1/8" thick. Cut with cookie cutters. Place on cookie sheets. *Decorate, if desired, then bake in a preheated oven at 400º for 8 to 10 minutes. Remove from the cookie sheets with a spatula and cool on a table or counter-top, covered with white paper towels. Cool completely before stacking the cookies in cans or in plastic containers to store. Repeat with the remaining dough.

*To decorate - If you have enough time or if you have cookie painting helpers (kids love to do this) "paint" these cookies before baking. To make the cookie paint - For each color, in a small custard cup or bowl, lightly beat an egg white with a fork. Stir in a few drops of food coloring. Use clean artist brushes to paint the unbaked cookies according to the cutters you use... paint red bows on green bells or wreaths... red berries on holly shaped cookies, outlined in green... bows on animal shaped cookies... faces, scarves, and buttons on snowmen, etc.