# Ingredient List:
→ Dough
01 - 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 3/4 teaspoon baking powder
03 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
04 - 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
05 - 1 cup granulated sugar
06 - 1 large egg
07 - 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
→ Coloring and Decoration
08 - Red gel food coloring
09 - Green gel food coloring
10 - 1/3 cup colored sanding sugar (red and green), optional
# Steps:
01 - In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt until evenly blended.
02 - Using an electric mixer, beat softened butter and granulated sugar together until light and fluffy, approximately 2 to 3 minutes.
03 - Add the egg and vanilla extract to the creamed butter mixture and beat until fully combined.
04 - Gradually add the dry ingredient mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing just until incorporated to form the dough.
05 - Separate the dough into three equal portions; leave one plain, tint one with red gel food coloring and the other with green gel food coloring, mixing each until the color is uniform.
06 - Roll each dyed dough portion between two sheets of parchment paper into rectangles approximately 9 x 6 inches, ensuring similar size and thickness, then chill each for 20 minutes.
07 - Stack the dough rectangles with the plain layer on the bottom, followed by the red, then green layers; trim edges to align precisely.
08 - Roll the stacked dough tightly from the long edge into a log, removing parchment paper as you roll; optionally coat the log with colored sanding sugar for decorative effect.
09 - Wrap the dough log in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours until firm.
10 - Preheat the oven to 350°F and line baking sheets with parchment paper for non-stick baking.
11 - Cut the chilled dough log into 1/4-inch thick rounds and place them on the prepared sheets spaced 2 inches apart.
12 - Bake cookies for 9 to 11 minutes until they are set and lightly firm without browning; cool on the baking sheet for 3 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
