I need help with my cut out cookies. I have follwed several recipes. My cookies always get really hard after sitting. The recipes say cook 6-7 minutes or until brown. I'm trying to make cookie bouquets so the cookies need to be firm but not like a rock...LOL!
Does thickness matter? I worry about the cookie being doughy inside, but I read a article that says the cookies continues to cook after being removed from the oven. I think I'm over cooking them. 
What do I do?
I always remove my cookies from the oven early. Most people would look at them and say "They're not done yet". I don't like crunchy cookies. Mine are always soft. I leave them on the cooling rack for a minute or two to set. You might turn the oven down 15-25 degrees .... I do that, depending on the cookie.
Had a relative one time who said, "Why are my cookies so overdone?" I said, "Don't bake 'em as long." Her logic was, "Well the DIRECTIONS SAY to bake 'em this long!"
In the words of Dr. Phil: "So how's that workin' for ya?" 
Try an experiment to test your oven temps. Bake 3 or 4 cookies on a sheet. Remove each sheet at a different time, such as remove sheet #1 after 5 minutes; sheet #2 at 6 minutes, etc. See which one turns out the best. I suggest 3-4 cookies so you aren't wasting a whole batch of dough on an experiment.
I don't let my sugar cookies brown at all, I cook until they are firm around the edges.
I leave my cookies in until I see the FAINTEST hint of color on the edge. Once removed, they stay on the cookie sheet for at least 5 more minutes. Big cookies stay on a minimum of 8 minutes before I remove them to a cooling rack.
I use a home convection oven that doesn't bake all 3 racks evenly, so I take out one sheet, a minute later take out another, a minute later, take out the last.
I don't let my cookies brown and then I leave them on the cookie sheet for about 2 minutes before putting them on the cooling rack. If you are makking them thicker to put a stick in, then yes you have to bake them for a few more minutes, but you still want them out of the oven before they brown.
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