1 cup softened butter. (Use butter for better flavor.)
1 cup white sugar.
2 Tbsp vanilla extract or other preferred flavoring.
4 cups of flour.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Cream butter and sugar together until very well mixed and very creamy.
Add vanilla and stir it in until things are very well mixed.
Add flour a half cup at a time and mix well. Watch for lumps and smooth them away with the back of your mixing spoon.

Place cookie dough on wax paper and roll into logs, the chill for at least an hour.
When the dough log feels firm to the touch, but not hard, remove from refrigerator.
Unwrap the cookie dough log from the wax paper and cut into 1/2 inch thick discs.
Place on ungreased cookie sheet and bake for 10 to 12 minutes.

You can decorate these any way you like. Candy sprinkles, candy chips, sugar, dip into chocolate, top with fruit preserves, whatever you want. After they're cooled, you can even put peanut butter between them and it's great.