Iced Sugar Cookies

Ingredients

• 1 cup salted butter, softened
• 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 large egg
• 1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/2 tsp almond extract
• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 recipe Royal Icing from Annie's Eats

Directions

1. Set up an electric stand mixer with the paddle attachment, then add the butter, powdered sugar and salt to the bowl. Beat on low just until the mixture comes together, about 20 seconds. Add the egg, vanilla and almond extract, and mix them in. Keep the mixer on low, add the flour gradually, and let it run only until the dough is combined.
2. Move the dough into an airtight container and chill it until firm, about 1 1/2 hours. 0r freeze it until firm, folding the dough once with a wooden spoon midway through, about 40 minutes total, which is the route I took.
3. Heat the oven to 375 degrees. Cover cookie sheets with Silpats or parchment paper. On a generously floured surface, roll the dough to 1/4-inch thickness, then use cookie cutters to make whatever shapes you like.
4. Gently lift the cutouts onto the prepared baking sheets. Bake in the hot oven for 8-10 minutes; you want the edges to stay pale, not brown.
5. Let the cookies rest on the baking sheets for at least 5 minutes, then move them to a wire rack. Once they are completely cool, ice them.