Preheat oven to 350°F. Line two cookie sheets with parchment or silicone baking mats.
Whisk baking soda, salt, and flour in a medium bowl. Set aside.
Cream butter and sugars in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment (or using a hand mixer). Cream until fluffy, about 1 minute.
Add egg and vanilla and mix until combined. Slowly mix in dry ingredients, scraping the sides of the bowl as necessary.
Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. Scoop cookies tablespoon cookie balls onto the cookie sheet. For 2-tablespoon cookies space them 4-inches apart. For 1-tablespoon size cookies scoop them 2-inches apart.
Bake for 9-11 minutes (for 1-tablespoon) or 11-14 minutes (for 2-tablespoon), or until the edges are golden. Remove from the oven and tap the cookie sheets on the top of the stove lightly to flatten the cookies a bit. Let cool completely before frosting.
To make the frosting: mix butter with a mixer until creamy and smooth. Mix in powdered sugar slowly until crumbly. Add vanilla and 1 tablespoon heavy whipping cream and mix until smooth. Add up to 2 more tablespoons of cream to get the right spreading consistency for your frosting.
Frost the bottoms of half the cookies, then sandwich with another cookie. Store in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
Notes
No need to chill the dough unless you want a puffy cookie. For cookies like shown, bake without chilling.