Creating fun memories with your family can start with these cookies. From rolling the dough and cutting out the shapes with favorite cookie cutters, to decorating with frosting or simple sugar sprinkles, these cookies are always fun to make and delicious to eat.

Ingredients:

Dough:

1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature

1 cup confectioners (powdered) sugar

1 large egg

1½ teaspoons pure almond extract

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

2½ cups all-purpose flour, plus additional for work surface

1 teaspoon salt

Frosting:

3 cups confectioners sugar

6 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

2 to 4 tablespoons milk

Food coloring (optional)

Sugar sprinkles (optional)

Directions:

Dough:

1. In a large bowl, combine butter and confectioners sugar; cream together until mixture appears light and fluffy. Add egg, almond extract, and vanilla extract; beat until thoroughly mixed. Add flour and salt; stir to mix.
   
   
2. Press dough into a ball, cover and refrigerate until well chilled, at least 2 hours.
   
   
3. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Baking sheets may be ungreased, or lined with parchment paper.
   
   
4. On a lightly floured surface, and using a lightly floured rolling pin, roll the dough to a 1/8 to 1/4 inch thickness. Cut dough into desired shapes using a cookie cutter that has been dipped in flour (to help prevent dough from sticking to the cutter.)
   
   Bake:
   
5. Place cutout dough 2 inches apart on baking sheets. Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until cookies are set and the edges are very lightly browned. Remove cookies from baking sheets and cool on wire racks.
   
   Frosting:
6. In a medium bowl, combine confectioners sugar, butter, vanilla extract, and enough milk to make a good spreading consistency. Add food coloring if desired.
   
   
7. Frost cooled cookies, sprinkle with sugar sprinkles if desired. Set aside until frosting is set.
   
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