Ingredients

• 1 cup (softened) Unsalted butter
• 1 cup Granulated sugar
• 1 large Egg
• 1 teaspoon Vanilla extract
• 2 1/2 cups All-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon Baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon Salt
• a few drops (optional) Food coloring (red and green)
• 1 cup (for decorating) Powdered sugar
• 2 tablespoons (for icing) Milk
• as needed (optional) Holiday sprinkles

Instructions

1. 1

   Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

2. 2

   In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy.

3. 3

   Add the egg and vanilla extract to the butter-sugar mixture and mix until fully combined.

4. 4

   In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt.

5. 5

   Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, stirring until a dough forms.

6. 6

   Divide the dough into two portions. If desired, add a few drops of red food coloring to one portion and green food coloring to the other, mixing until evenly colored.

7. 7

   Lightly flour your work surface and roll out each portion of dough to about 1/4-inch thickness.

8. 8

   Use festive cookie cutters (e.g., stars, trees, snowflakes) to cut shapes from the dough and place them onto the prepared baking sheet.

9. 9

   Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 8-10 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden. Let them cool completely on a wire rack.

10. 10

    To make the icing, mix powdered sugar and milk in a small bowl until smooth. Adjust the consistency by adding more powdered sugar or milk if needed.

11. 11

    Decorate the cooled cookies with the icing, holiday sprinkles, and any additional decorations you like.

12. 12

    Allow the icing to set before serving or storing the cookies in an airtight container.