Snowy Christmas Tree Cookies

Instructions:

1. Make the dough:
   Cream the butter and sugar together until fluffy. Add the egg and vanilla. Mix in the flour, baking powder, and salt until a soft dough forms. Flatten into a disc, wrap tightly, and chill for 1 hour.
2. Cut the cookies:
   Preheat the oven to 350°F. Roll the chilled dough to 1/4-inch thickness. Cut cookies using a Christmas tree cookie cutter.
3. Bake:
   Arrange cookies on a lined baking sheet. Bake for 9 to 11 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden. Cool completely before decorating.
4. Make the icing:
   Stir together powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla until smooth. Divide the icing: keep half white and tint the other half green.
5. Decorate:
   Outline each cookie with white icing. Fill the center with green icing in the shape of the tree. Add white nonpareils or sprinkles to resemble snow.
6. Allow the icing to set fully before stacking or packaging.

Variations

• Add almond extract to the dough for a bakery-style flavor.
• Use royal icing instead of simple icing for a firmer, glossier finish.
• Add sparkling sugar for a frosted, glittery look.
• Create multicolored trees using assorted green shades.
• Pipe garland or ornaments using additional icing colors.

Tips

• Chill the dough thoroughly; it helps the cookies keep their shape while baking.
• If the dough becomes too soft while cutting, return it to the fridge for a few minutes.
• Use gel food coloring to prevent thinning the icing.
• Gently shake the cookie after flooding the icing—this smooths the surface beautifully.
• Allow icing to dry overnight for perfectly set, stackable cookies.