BUTTERCREAM FROSTING FOR CUTOUT COOKIES RECIPES

Steps:

• In a large mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs and vanilla; mix well. Combine the flour, baking powder and salt; gradually add to creamed mixture and mix well. Chill until firm, 1 hour. , On a lightly floured surface, roll out dough to 1/4-in thickness. Cut out with Christmas cookie cutters of your choice. Using a floured spatula, transfer cookies to greased baking sheets. Bake at 375° until lightly browned, 8-10 minutes. Cool completely on wire racks., Decorate cookies with frosting and colored sugars.

Steps:

• In a large bowl, whisk together flour, cornstarch, baking powder, and salt. 
• In another large bowl using a hand mixer, beat butter, cream cheese, and sugar together until light and fluffy. Add egg and extracts and beat until well combined. Add dry ingredients and beat until just combined. Transfer dough to plastic wrap and smooth into a disc. Dough will still be soft and sticky at this point. Refrigerate until well chilled, at least 1 hour. 
• Preheat oven to 350° and line 2 large baking sheets with parchment. Lightly flour surface and place dough on counter. Dust top of dough with flour as well. Roll dough out to ½” thick. Use a 3” round cookie cutter to cut cookies and place on prepared baking sheets 2” apart. Gather scraps and re-roll to cut to cut out more cookies. 
• Bake until edges are just set, but centers are still slightly underdone, 10 to 12 minutes. Cookies shouldn’t gain much color on top. Let cool completely on baking sheets. 
• Meanwhile, make frosting: In a large bowl using a hand mixer, beat butter until completely smooth and creamy, 2 minutes. Add powdered sugar and beat again until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes more. Add heavy cream, vanilla, and a pinch of salt and beat until combined. Add desired food coloring and beat again to combine. 
• Use an offset spatula to frost tops of cooled cookies with a thick amount of frosting, then top with sprinkles.