Christmas Sugar Cookies

In honor of Christmas so quickly approaching, I thought I would post a festive recipe.
Makes: 5 dozen



Cookies:
3 cups flour
1 cup granulated sugar
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup soft butter
1 egg, slightly beaten
3 tbsp cream
1 tsp vanilla (can substitute almond extract)

Icing:
1/3 cup of softened butter
1 pound of confectioners sugar
1/4 cup of milk
1 teaspoon of vanilla

Sift dry ingredients, cut in butter and add other ingredients. Blend thoroughly; chill for several hours. Break off a piece of dough the size of an orange and pat it flat in your hand. Using a rolling pin, roll on dough on floured board (best to use a 2:1 ration of flour/sugar - 4 Tbsp flour mixed with 2 Tbsp sugar) Roll out to about a 1/4 inch thickness. Cut out and put on greased cookie sheet. Bake 5-8 minutes at 400 F. Remove the cookies from the oven as soon as you see them turning color at the base of the cookie. Let cool completely. Mix icing ingredients together until smooth. Separate into different bowls, add food coloring to achieve various colors. Spread on cookies with a butter knife, use cake decorating piping equipment to add decorative accents. If you want the sprinkle type decorating candies to stick, brush the cookie with clear Karo syrup and then sprinkle.
(recipe & picture from simply recipes - by elise)