Vanilla Bean Snowman Cookies

Ingredients

1 vanilla bean
1.5 cups powdered sugar
2 sticks (8 oz) softened unsalted butter
2 t vanilla extract
1/2 t baking soda
1/2 t salt
1 large egg
2 2/3 cups flour
decorations

Directions

In a tupperware, scrape the vanilla bean seeds into the powdered sugar. Add the pod, cover, shake, and leave overnight or longer, shaking periodically.

Remove the pod from the sugar and compost. Using an electric mixer, blend the sugar and the softened butter until very fluffy, about 5 minutes. Beat in the vanilla extract, baking soda, and salt at medium speed. Beat in the egg. Mix in the flour at low speed.

Divide the dough in half and shape into disks on parchment paper. Wrap completely to avoid drying out; refrigerate for 1-2 hours.

Preheat oven to 375'. One at a time, remove the disks from the fridge and roll out on parchment. Cut out shapes. Gather scraps and roll out on parchment; cut out shapes.

Refrigerate cut-out cookies for 10 minutes before baking. Bake for 12-14 minutes, depending on thickness. Let cool; decorate!

Notes

Cookies can be painted with egg white and sprinkled before baking, or iced with a thin mixture of powdered sugar and milk, butter, or lemon juice, then decorated. Cookies are quite sturdy when cool and can be given as favours, Christmas gifts, etc.