Tree Christmas Cookies

Ingredients

Unsalted butter

1 cup, softened

Granulated sugar

1 cup

Egg

1, large

Vanilla extract

1 teaspoon

All-purpose flour

2 1/2 cups

Baking powder

1 teaspoon

Salt

1/2 teaspoon

Icing sugar

2 cups

Milk

2-3 tablespoons

Food coloring

assorted colors

Sprinkles

assorted, for decoration

Instructions

1. In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter and granulated sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy, about 3-5 minutes.
2. Add the egg and vanilla extract to the butter mixture, mixing until well combined.
3. In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt.
4. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture, mixing until a soft dough forms.
5. Divide the dough into two equal portions and shape each portion into a disc. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour to firm up the dough.
6. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
7. On a lightly floured surface, roll out one portion of the dough to a thickness of about 1/4 inch.
8. Use a tree-shaped cookie cutter to cut out cookies from the rolled dough and place them onto the prepared baking sheet.
9. Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden. Keep an eye on them to ensure they don't overbake.
10. Allow the cookies to cool completely on a wire rack before decorating.
11. In a small bowl, whisk together the icing sugar and 2 tablespoons of milk to make a smooth icing. Add more milk if necessary for desired consistency.
12. Divide the icing into separate bowls and add a few drops of food coloring to each bowl to create different colors for decorating.
13. Decorate the cooled cookies with the colored icing and sprinkle with assorted sprinkles.
14. Allow the icing to set for at least 30 minutes before serving or storing the cookies.