Christmas Cookie Cutouts

Adapted from Better Homes and Gardens recipe

Ingredients (dough):
2/3 c. butter, softened
3/4 c. granulated sugar
1/4 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking powder
1 egg
1 tbs. milk
1 tsp. vanilla
2 c. all-purpose flour

Directions:

1. In a mixing bowl, beat butter on medium high speed for 30sec.  Add sugar, baking powder, and 1/4 tsp salt.  Beat until combined.  Next, beat in egg, milk, and vanilla.  After combined, beat in flour little by little until all combined.  Divide dough in half and chill for 30 minutes.
2. Preheat oven to 375.  Lightly flour surface and roll out 1/2 dough until 1/8 inch thick.  Use cookie cutters to cut dough, and place 1 inch apart on ungreased cookie sheet.
3. Bake for 7-8 minutes until edges are firm and edges/bottom are light brown.  Let cool on wire rack completely while creating icing (yields approximately 3 dozen cookies).

Ingredients (icing):
3 tbs. meringue powder
6 tbs. water
3 c. confectioners sugar
Food coloring

Directions:

1. Combine ingredients and beat for 7-12 minutes.  If using a hand mixer, time range is 10-12 minutes, while a stand mixer time frame is 7-10 minutes.  If using a stand mixer, use 1 less tbs. water.  
2. When desired consistency is reached (icing will "peak"), divide into different bowls and color as desired.  

Enjoy some phone shots of my cookie baking experience (keep in mind I doubled the batch and also made a batch-and-a-half of chocolate chip cookies, so I ended up with a TON of cookies!!)  

Less than 5 days until Christmas!