Cream butter and sugar.
Mix in egg, vanilla and spices.
Sprinkle in baking powder and add flour one cup at a time.
Mix until all flour is incorporated scraping bowl with spatula as necessary.
Roll dough out on a clean, floured surface a few handfuls at a time. ⅓ to ½ of an inch thick is ideal.
Cut out shapes and transfer to an un-greased cookie sheet.
Bake at 350° for 8 minutes. Large thick cookies may take up to 11 minutes.
Cool on baking sheet then transfer to a cooling rack. Cool completely before decorating.