In a large bowl beat in the bowl with hand mixer butter and sugar until smooth
Add vanilla extract and egg
Add dry ingredients a little at a time. When dough will get stiff finish kneading with your wet hands.
Chill dough 3 hours before rolling.
Roll out on a lightly floured counter to 1/4" thick and cut with cookie cutters. Transfer cookies to cookie sheet with silicone liner.
Before baking, place the baking sheet of cookie cutouts in the fridge and let chill for 5-10 minutes. This is so the cookies will keep their form and not spread out while baking.
Bake about 8-10 minutes.
Let cookies cool slightly on cookie sheet, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
Royal icing
In a large bowl combine confectioners' sugar and meringue powder.
Gradually add water, one spoon at a time, then add vanilla extract. Start mixing on low speed until the mixture becomes shiny.
Increase the speed to medium and beat for 5-7 minutes. Add food coloring if desired.
Transfer one-third of the icing into a piping bag and tie a knot at the end. This will be used for edging the cookies.
Add 1 tsp of water to the remaining icing and mix until everything is well combined.
Transfer the rest of the icing into another piping bag and tie a knot. This bag will be used for flooding the cookies.
Cut a tiny tip off the edging bag and trace the edges of the cookies.
Cut a slightly larger tip from the flooding bag and fill the inside of the cookies with icing.
Gently tap the cookie on the table to even out the icing.
Allow the icing to air dry for 24-48 hours on a wire rack.
Painting cookies
The icing on the cookies needs to be completely dry before painting.
In a clean or new paint palette, add 1 tsp of clear vanilla and a tiny amount (use the tip of a toothpick) of food coloring. Mix together with the toothpick. Repeat this process for each color you wish to use.
Using a clean or new paintbrush, start writing your message on the dried icing.
Video
Keyword baking, birthday cookies, kids birthday, royal icing, sugar cookies, valentines day