The Best Rolled Sugar Cookies

Allrecipes by Jill Saunders Note: I halved this. Ingredients 1 1/2 cups butter, softened 2 cups white sugar 4 eggs 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 5 cups all-purpose flour 2 teaspoons baking powder 1 teaspoon salt Directions In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar until smooth. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Stir in the flour, baking powder, and salt. Cover, and chill dough for at least one hour (or overnight). Preheat oven to 400 °F. Roll out dough on surface sprinkled with powdered sugar (won't make the dough tough like flour will) 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick. Cut into shapes with cookie cutter. Place cookies 1 inch apart on parchment lined cookie sheets. Bake 6 to 8 minutes until JUST turning golden on the edges. Cool completely on racks before decorating. If you want to keep these simple, just sprinkle them with decorator sugar, non-pareils or other decorating sprinkles before baking. These cookies are very good all on their own! Royal Icing Dries hard Ingredients 3 tablespoons meringue powder 4 cups confectioners sugar 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract (or other flavoring of choice - watch color though, it will tint the frosting) 6 tablespoons water (less for really thick icing, more for thin) Directions Combine all ingredients in mixing bowl. Beat on high for at about 10 minutes or until stiff peaks form. Divide and color as desired. Add more water as needed for flooding or more sugar if you get a little heavy handed with the water.