No time of the year is more perfectly suited to cookies than the holiday season. Whether you’re making them for yourself, or perhaps whipping up a batch to give as homemade gifts — cookies are the perfect treat, no matter your cravings — or skill level.

One of the most classic — and versatile — recipes is the sugar cookie. Stripped to its most basic form, a sugar cookie is nothing more than a combination of butter, flour, egg, and sugar. A touch of vanilla is often added for added flavoring, and a sprinkling of salt is often beaten in towards the end to round out the flavors.

Simple as it may appear, there is chemistry behind a great sugar cookie, and the science lies in the method of preparation. Continue reading for tips and recipes….