Grandma's Rolled Sugar Cookies

1 ½ cups butter, softened

2 cups white sugar

4 eggs

1 tsp vanilla

5 cups flour

2 tsp baking powder

1 tsp salt

In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar until smooth.  Beat in eggs and vanilla.  Stir in the flour, baking powder, and salt.  Cover, and chill dough for at least one hour or overnight.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.  Roll out dough on floured surface ¼ to ½ inch thick.  Cut into shapes with any cookie cutter.  Place cookies 1 inch apart on ungreased cookie sheets.  I like to use parchment paper.

Bake 6 to 8 minutes in preheated oven.  Cool completely.

For an icing that dries hard and shiny- 

1 cup icing sugar

2 teaspoons milk

2 teaspoons light corn syrup

1/4 teaspoon almond extract (or peppermint extract)

food coloring

Stir together the icing sugar and the milk until smooth.  Beat in the corn syrup and flavoring until the icing sugar is smooth and glossy.  If the icing is too thick, add more corn syrup.

Divide into smaller bowls if more than one color is to be used and add food colorings.  Dip cookies or paint with a brush.