How to make amazing sugar cookies--Miranda

In honor of the holidays that are just around the corner, I've decided to release my top secret recipe on how to make the best christmas cookies. Much like the commonly known sugar cookies, these cookies are warm, soft and will melt in your mouth with every bite. This tutorial for snowflake christmas cookies is super easy and quick. First I'll walk you through the process of making the actual cookie then I'll discuss the decorating process. I always enjoy baking things from scratch so I thought I'd share. I hope you enjoy! 

Cookie Process
Ingredients required:

• ●  2 cups of all purpose flour
  
• ●  1 1⁄2 teaspoons of baking powder
  
• ●  1⁄2 teaspoon of salt
  
• ●  1⁄2 cup of butter
  
• ●  1 cup of sugar
  
• ●  1 egg
  
• ●  1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
  
• ●  1 tablespoon of milk
  Step 1: Combine the all purpose flour, baking powder, and salt into one medium size bowl. Step 2: In a separate large bowl melt the butter for approx 30 seconds in the microwave, add in the sugar,egg,vanilla extract and milk.
  Step 3: Put the dough in a large container and place in the fridge for approx 30 mins.(This process allows the ingredients to stick together and ensures that your cookies will keep the shape and not crack once baked)
  Step 4: Next you must preheat your oven to 375°. Roll out the cookie dough until you feel the thickness of your dough is a good size for your cookies. (Keep in mind the cookies do rise when baked)
  Step 5: Place in the oven for 6-8 minutes until cookies are very lightly brown.
  Step 6: Remove from the oven and let them cool for 10-15 mins
  So now that we covered the steps on how to make the actual sugar cookie from scratch it's time to move on to the fun part! By now your cookies should be cooled down and ready to be decorated. Everyone has their own way of expressing their imagination so this step isn't necessarily required. Below are two different options on how to decorate your cookies with frosting, but feel free to do as you wish!
  Cookie Frosting Process
  The first process will be the easy way to decorate your cookies. Ingredients:
  

• ●  Can of frosting
  
• ●  Food coloring
  

● Butter knife
Step 1: Open the can of frosting and choose whichever color you would like Step 2: Add approx 3 drops of the color you chose
Step 3: Mix well, then apply your frosting on top of your cookie
Step 4: Enjoy!
This process is going to be more of a challenge but it's well worth it. Intermediate Design Decorating
Materials required:

• ●  Sugar cookies
  
• ●  Snowflake cookie cutter
  
• ●  Icing in colors: white, blue, and a color of your choice
  
• ●  Icing bags
  
• ●  toothpicks
  Step 1: Take the cookie cutter and form shapes in the dough separating each individual cookie. Step 2: Once you have successfully cut out all your cookies you must place them on a separate tray.
  Step 3: Outline and fill in your sugar cookies with the white frosting
  Step 4: Using one of your colors other than white, form a small circle in the center of your snowflake.
  Step 5: Then with another color form a bigger circle
  Step 6: Now using alternating colors form a small line where the cookie points outward Step 7: Draw another line next to it on the outside of the cookie
  Step 8: Now take a toothpick and drag it outwards from the center of the cookie between the two points
  Step 9: Continue this process with every point the snowflake has
  Step 10: You now made a beautiful snowflake sugar cookie! 
  
  *TIPS*
  Make sure to use unsalted butter when adding in the ingredients for the cookies. Also if you just add all the ingredients without following the instructions the dough won't come out the way its supposed to and instead of being thick and moist it will turn out super crumby and the dough won't stick together. If you would like to use different shapes you are free to do so. Frosting can be any color also the colors are not required they are optional.
  As time goes on practice makes perfect so the more cookies you get through the nicer they'll become. Sugar cookies are great for any occasion, frosting or no frosting they are delicious and never disappoint.The process to make the actual cookie is a very easy and simple recipe, frosting is where the creativity comes into play. You don't have to make your frosting from scratch for it to be creative. Feel free to incorporate your own colors and cookie cutter shapes, the great part about sugar cookies is they are flat and can be easily changed. I hope you enjoy the recipe!