Italian Easter Cookie Cutouts

1 1/2 C Sugar
5 C Flour
3 Sticks Butter = 1 1/2 C.
6 Eggs
4 1/2 teas. baking powder
1  pinch of salt
2 tablespoons of vanilla

Beat together remove from bowl and continue to knead in more flour until it is no longer sticky.  Roll out between two sheets of parchment paper and use your favorite cookie cutters, peel away excess dough and slide parchment onto a cookie sheet. bake at 350 degrees for about 5-7 minutes or until bottom of cookie is golden brown.
Allow cookies to thoroughly cool before glazing.

You can use cheap synthetic artist paint brushes to decorate cookies. Or you can just dip the cookies in the glaze using a wide mouth bowl.

Glaze: In a small bowl, stir together 1 cup confectioners' sugar and 1 tablespoon milk, 1 teasp. of almond extract a drop or two of your favorite food coloring. For Easter I like pastel, so I use very little coloring.