Holiday Sugar Cookie with Naturally Colored Icing | Dye-free

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Yummy! Festive! Decorative! Easy! These holiday cookies check all the boxes. Get your kids involved for some extra fun!

MAKES: 18-20 COOKIES

INGREDIENTS

2 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
½ tsp baking powder
¼ tsp kosher salt
⅔ cup granulated sugar
¾ cup (1 ½ sticks) unsalted butter, at room temp
1 large egg
½ tsp pure vanilla extract
Color Kitchen Holiday Icing Set

DIRECTIONS

Line two large cookie sheets with parchment paper. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt. Using an electric mixer, in a large bowl, beat the butter and sugar until light and fluffy 2 to 3 minutes. 

Add egg and vanilla.

Reduce mixer speed to low and add flour mixture, mixing until just incorporated. 

Shape the dough into a disk then roll between 2 sheets of parchment paper until ¼-inch thick. Cut out shapes (such as circles, stars and triangles) and use a small offset spatula to transfer to prepared cookie sheets. Reroll scraps and cut out. Chill until firm, at least 20 minutes.

Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 350°F. Bake, rotating the pans halfway through, until the cookies are lightly golden brown around the edges, 13 to 15 minutes. Let cool on baking sheets.

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Once cool, make the icing.

Divide the sugar between 4 bowls shallow (about ½ cup per bowl) and prepare according to package directions. 

Line 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper. Working one at a time, dip one side of each cookie (or one half of each cookie)  in one color of glaze. Gently shake off the excess and transfer to a wire rack. Use a fork to drizzle the cookies back and forth with the other colors. To create patterns, drag a toothpick back and forth through the drizzled lines. Let dry completely. 

~Recipe by Anna Helm Baker