Snowflake Sugar Cookies

I hope everyone had an amazing Christmas! We had a great day and loved spending time with our families.  This was our first Christmas together married! Plus, it snowed on Christmas night and dumped more than 6 inches on us... which for the South is a lot!!

So, in honor of the snow and Christmas, I thought I'd share with you a wonderful sugar cookie recipe and the snowflake cookies that I made this week.  Angela gave me a cute set of snowflake cookie cutters and sugar pearls for Christmas, perfect for making these cookies!! I love the set, you can customize each snowflake shape, so they're more natural and each is unique!

Sugar Cookies
- 3/4 cup butter, softened
- 1 cup white sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp salt

Cream together butter and sugar until smooth in a large bowl.  Beat in eggs and vanilla.  Stir in the flour, baking powder, and salt.  Wrap the dough tightly and chill for at least one hour.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.  Roll out dough on floured surface to between 1/2 and 1/2 inch thick.  Cut into shapes cookie cutters.  Place cookies 1 inch apart on ungreased cookie sheets.
Bake about 6 minutes in preheated oven. Remove the cookies before they become golden brown, cool completely.

Store in an airtight container until icing with Royal Icing.

source: AllRecipes

Royal Icing for Sugar Cookies
- 2 egg whites
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 3 cups powdered sugar, sifted
- food coloring gel (optional, for making colors)

Whisk egg whites and vanilla until frothy, add powdered sugar.  Beat until combined and smooth.  Place into pastry bag and pipe on cooled cookies.  Add more powdered sugar to thicken or add a little bit of water to thin.