Makes 2-3 dozen cookies.

You need:

• 1 cup butter or margarine, softened.
• 1 cup sugar.
• 1 large egg.
• 1 teaspoon vanilla.
• 2 teaspoons baking powder.
• 3 cups flour.

You do:

1. Preheat oven to 375° F.
2. In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar with an electric mixer.
3. Beat in egg and vanilla.
4. Add baking powder and flour one cup at a time, mixing after addition.
5. The dough will be very stiff; blend last flour in by hand.
   • Do not chill.
6. Reserve 1/2 cup of dough for decorating.
7. Divide dough into 2 balls.
8. On a floured surface, roll each ball in a circle approximately 12″ in diameter and 1/8″ thick.
9. Dip cookie cutters in flour before each use.
10. Pipe cookies with colored outline. (See directions below.)
11. Bake cookies on ungreased cookie sheet on middle rack of oven for 8-12 minutes, or until cookies are lightly browned.
12. Remove from sheet and cool on wire rack.

Outlining Sugar Cookies with Piped Colored Dough before Baking

1. Tint 1/2 cup of reserved cookie dough with Icing Colors.
   • Dough should be tinted according to color preference.
   • Dough color will lighten when baked.
2. Thin desired shade of tinted dough with 1 teaspoon of water at a time until it can be piped through a Round Tip.
3. Place dough in a bag fitted with tip.
4. Outline and pipe in desired designs.
5. Bake according to Sugar Cookie Recipe.

Decorating after Baking

1. Paint cookies with a pastry brush and icing.
2. Let dry for 2-3 hours.
3. To paint in details, thin Icing Colors with clear vanilla and apply with artist brush.
4. If sprinkling with sparkles or sugar, add before icing dries.