In a separate bowl, beat the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy, then beat in the molasses, egg, and vanilla extract.

Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and stir until well combined.

Divide the dough into two equal pieces, wrap each piece in plastic wrap, and chill in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour.

Once the dough is chilled, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Lightly flour a work surface and roll out the dough to a thickness of about 1/4 inch. Use cookie cutters to cut out the desired shapes and transfer them to the prepared baking sheet.

Bake the cookies for 10-12 minutes, or until they are firm and slightly golden around the edges. Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.