Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and prepare a baking sheet by lining it with parchment paper or coating it with baking spray.

In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter and 1 1/4 cups granulated sugar using a standing or hand mixer until the mixture is light and fluffy, which should take about one minute.

Add the egg, vanilla extract, and optional almond extract to the creamed mixture and beat until all ingredients are well combined.

Gradually mix in the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt until just combined, remembering to scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed.

Roll the dough into 1-inch balls, then roll each ball in the remaining 1/4 cup of granulated sugar for dipping.

Place the sugared dough balls about 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheet and bake for 10-11 minutes, or until the cookies have set.

Once baked, allow the cookies to cool completely.

Enjoy your chewy sugar cookies; you can optionally frost or cover them with a glaze.