EASTER SUGAR COOKIES W/ICING THAT HARDENS

Steps:

• 1. Cookies: In a large bowl combine butter with sugar, eggs, vanilla and almond extract. Beat using an electric mixer on high speed until light and fluffy. In another bowl, combine the flour with baking powder, baking soda and salt. Gradually stir into the butter mixture until well blended. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and chill for 2 hours.
• 2. Set oven to 400 degrees. line cookie sheets with parchment paper (do not grease cookie sheets, use parchment paper only). On a very lightly floured surface roll out the dough into about 1/4-inch thickness Cut into desired shapes using cookie cutters. (roll dough on the parchment paper and remove excess if cookies are delicate) Place cookies 2-inches apart (I did 1-inch) on cookie sheet. Bake for 4-6 minutes. (I did 6 minutes) Remove cookies to wire racks to cool completely before icing.
• 3. ICING: In a small bowl mix the powdered sugar with milk (start with 1 or 2 tablespoons, you will likely need more milk for the perfect spreading consistency). Beat in corn syrup and a little vanilla until the icing is smooth and glossy (if the icing is too thick add in a small amount of more corn syrup). Divide into as many separate bowls as you wish to different colors. Add in food coloring until desired intensity is achieved. Pain the icing over the cookies using a brush,or dip edges of cookies into icing. Wash brush before changing colors. Allow to set on waxed paper. Decorate as you want. I needed two batches of frosting for these cookies. The second batch of frosting, I did not sift the powdered sugar and made a little stiffer frosting to use as decorating the cookies..