Ingredients
Equipment
Method
Cookie Preparation
- Cream softened butter and granulated sugar together until light and fluffy; then beat in the large egg and vanilla extract.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined.
- Divide the dough in half, flatten each into a disc, wrap tightly in plastic wrap, and chill in the refrigerator for at least one hour.
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and prepare baking sheets by lining them with parchment paper.
- On a lightly floured surface, roll out one disc of chilled dough to about 1/4-inch thickness. Use Christmas-themed cookie cutters to cut out desired shapes and place them onto the prepared baking sheets.
- Bake the cookies for 8-12 minutes, or until the edges begin to turn a light golden color. Allow them to cool on the baking sheets for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Icing and Decoration
- To prepare the royal icing, whisk powdered sugar and meringue powder together in a bowl. Gradually add warm water and clear vanilla extract, mixing until the icing is smooth and reaches your desired consistency for decorating.
- Divide the prepared icing into several small bowls and color each portion with different gel food colorings as desired.
- Once the cookies are completely cool, use piping bags or squeeze bottles to decorate them with the colored royal icing. Allow the icing to dry completely before storing the decorated cookies.
Notes
For best results, ensure your butter is at room temperature before starting. When decorating, allow each layer of icing to dry before adding another to prevent colors from bleeding. Store decorated cookies in an airtight container at room temperature to maintain freshness.