Norwegian Butter Cookies

Ingredients

• 0.5 teaspoon almond extract 
• 0.5 teaspoon double-acting baking powder 
• 1 large eggs lightly beaten
• 3.5 cups flour all-purpose
• 0.5 teaspoon salt 
• 1 cup sugar 
• 1.5 cups butter unsalted softened
• 1.5 teaspoons vanilla extract 

Equipment

• bowl
• baking sheet
• oven
• hand mixer
• spatula

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
2. Sift together flour, baking powder, and salt.
3. Beat together butter, sugar, and extracts in a large bowl with an electric mixer at moderately high speed until pale and fluffy, about 3 minutes.
4. Add egg and beat well.
5. Add flour mixture and mix at low speed until just combined.
6. Quarter dough and put 1 piece into cookie press. Holding press slightly above ungreased baking sheets, squeeze out dough to form cookies (follow manufacturer's instructions), spacing them about 3 inches apart. Form more cookies with remaining dough in same manner.
7. Bake cookies in batches in middle of oven until edges are golden, 10 to 15 minutes, then transfer with a metal spatula to racks to cool.
8. · If you don't have a cookie press, you can form dough into 1 1/2-inch balls, then flatten to 1/3 to 1/2 inch thick with back of a fork, making a crosshatch design on top of cookies.· Cookies keep in an airtight container at room temperature 3 weeks.* Available at cookware shops and Williams-Sonoma (800-541-1262).