Iced sugar cookies

Original recipe from A Baker's Field Guide to Christmas Cookies
Oven temp = 350

Basic Sugar Cookies:
3 3/4 cups flour
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 cups butter
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp baking powder
3 eggs

Cream butter, sugar, and vanilla extract. Add eggs one at a time, mixing in each egg in between additions. Add flour, salt, and baking powder and mix until just combined. Roll out dough on a well-floured surface to about 1/4-inch thickness and cut out cookies in the shape of your choice. Bake 2 inches apart on a baking sheet for about 10 minutes until the edges are just browning. Cool and ice cookies.

Royal Icing:
3 3/4 cups powdered sugar
3 egg whites
1 Tbs water
*can also omit egg whites and add more water to reach icing consistency; more water will make a thinner icing*

Whip sugar, egg whites, and water at high speed until the icing is thick and creamy. Add food coloring as desired.