SUGAR COOKIES WITH CLOVERS

Steps:

• Sift flour, salt, and baking powder into a large bowl, and set aside. Put butter and granulated sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment; cream on high speed until fluffy. Beat in eggs.
• Reduce speed to low. Add flour mixture in two additions, and mix until well combined. Mix in vanilla. Divide the dough in half, and wrap in plastic wrap; refrigerate 30 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Sift together confectioners' sugar and food coloring into a small bowl, and set aside.
• Roll out 1 piece of dough on a lightly floured work surface 1/8 inch thick. With a 2 1/2-inch cookie cutter, cut out 25 rounds. Arrange rounds on parchment-lined baking sheets 2 inches apart.
• Working with one round at a time, place clover stencil on top; using a small sieve, sprinkle surface with green sugar. Refrigerate until firm, about 15 minutes, or until ready to bake. Repeat process with remaining dough.
• Bake, one sheet at a time, until edges just start to brown, 10 to 12 minutes. Let cool completely on sheets on wire racks.