# Ingredients:
→ Cookies
01 - 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
02 - ¾ teaspoon baking powder
03 - ¼ teaspoon salt
04 - ¾ cup unsalted butter, softened
05 - 1 cup granulated sugar
06 - 1 large egg
07 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
08 - ½ teaspoon almond extract, optional
→ Royal Icing
09 - 3 cups powdered sugar, sifted
10 - 2 large egg whites or 4 tablespoons meringue powder plus 6 tablespoons water
11 - ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
12 - Gel food coloring in red, green, brown, yellow, black, and white
→ Decoration & Assembly
13 - Edible gold or silver sprinkles
14 - Mini pretzels, optional
15 - Mini candy canes, optional
16 - Assorted festive sprinkles
17 - Edible glue or a small amount of royal icing for assembly
# Instructions:
01 - Preheat the oven to 350°F and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
02 - In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt.
03 - Beat the softened unsalted butter and granulated sugar in a large bowl until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add the egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract if using; mix until fully combined.
04 - Gradually incorporate the dry ingredients into the wet mixture, mixing just until a dough forms. Divide the dough in half, shape into disks, wrap in plastic wrap, and chill for 30 minutes.
05 - On a lightly floured surface, roll out one disk of dough to a ¼-inch thickness. Use cookie cutters shaped as sleighs, reindeer, Santas, stars, and trees to cut out shapes. Transfer the cookies to the prepared baking sheets.
06 - Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 10 to 12 minutes, until the edges are just beginning to turn golden. Allow to cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes, then transfer to wire racks to cool completely.
07 - Beat the powdered sugar with the egg whites or meringue powder mixture on low speed until thick and glossy, approximately 5 minutes. Add vanilla extract, then divide and tint with the desired gel food colors.
08 - Pipe royal icing decoratively onto the cooled cookies. Add sprinkles and edible decorations to create details on sleighs, reindeer, Santas, stars, and trees. Allow the icing to dry completely for at least 2 hours.
09 - Arrange sleigh cookies at the center of a serving platter and place reindeer in front, securing with royal icing or edible glue. Fill the sleigh with decorated tree and star cookies or mini candies. Attach mini pretzels or candy canes as sleigh runners using icing if desired.
