Spring Time Sugar Cookies w/Decorations

Cookie Ingredients:

2/3 cup butter at room temperature

3/4 cup plus 2 tbsps. granulated sugar

1 tsp. baking powder

1 egg

1 tbsp. milk

2 tsps. pure vanilla extract

2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour

Frosting Ingredients:

2 cups confectioners sugar

1 tbsp. meringue powder 

1 tsp. pure vanilla extract

1 tbsp. melted butter

1-2 tbsps. milk

Directions:

Step 1 - Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees.  In a large bowl or mixer with paddle attachment beat butter for 1 minute. Then add sugar, baking powder and salt until combined.  At a medium-low speed add in vanilla, egg and milk until smooth and combined.  Turn mixer to a low speed and gradually add in the flour until combined. 

Step 2 - On a lightly floured surface, roll out dough to your desired thickness.  Use which ever cookie cutters that you have (I changed seasonally and/or by occasion) and set cookies aside. 

Step 3 - Take out a cookie sheet and line with parchment paper  and place cookies 2 inches apart and bake for 7-9 minutes depending on thickness until edges are golden brown.  Remove and let cool and make your frosting.

Step 4 -  Place frosting into a piping bag or zip top bag, trim the tip and squeeze to decorate accordingly.(The meringue powder is a new ingredient I can across that allows your frosting to stiffen and hold its shape or in other words after letting set if you stack your cookies they won't all stick together. It also makes for better presentation, like you see in bakeries.) Enjoy, quack quack!