01 -
Beat butter and sugar in a big bowl until it's fluffy and pale. Throw in the eggs, vanilla extract, almond extract, and orange zest. Stir everything until it's well mixed.
02 -
Slowly pour flour into your wet ingredients, mixing gently until you get a nice soft dough. If it feels too crumbly, add a bit of milk to help it stick together.
03 -
Get your oven hot at 350°F (175°C). Put parchment paper on two or three baking sheets.
04 -
Flatten the dough to 1/4-inch thick. Cut out fun shapes with cookie cutters and place them on your lined baking sheets. Let them cool in the fridge for about 10-15 minutes.
05 -
Pop them in the hot oven for 10-12 minutes. They're done when the edges start turning slightly golden. Move them to a wire rack and let them cool completely.
06 -
Mix meringue powder, lemon juice, and water in a bowl until it gets foamy. Add powdered sugar bit by bit while mixing until your icing looks shiny and forms peaks. Add more water if it's too thick.
07 -
Split the icing into several small bowls and add different food colors to each. Spread or pipe the icing on your cooled cookies, then top with sprinkles, edible glitter, or candy cane pieces. Wait for everything to dry.