The Freshman Cook: Place Setting Sugar Cookies / #ChristmasCookiesWeek

I love setting a nice table, especially during the holidays! I often decorate the table formal and traditional, and sometimes I go with fun and cute, like these Place Setting Sugar Cookies. The cookies are basic sugar cookies with the recipients name on them and they are simply placed on top of the napkin at each table setting!
Place Setting Sugar Cookies
(printable recipe at end of page)

5 cups Flour

3 teaspoon Baking Powder
1 teaspoon Salt
2 cups Butter
2 cups Sugar
2 Eggs
2 teaspoon Almond Extract

Royal Icing

3/4 cup Warm Water
5 tablespoons Meringue Powder
1 teaspoon Cream of Tartar
2.25 pounds Confectioner’s Sugar
Red Hot Candies Mix the dry ingredients together. Set aside.
Cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the eggs and almond extract and mix well. Add the dry ingredients a little at a time, to the butter mixture. Mix until the flour is incorporated and the dough comes together.
Place a spatula full of dough on a large piece of parchment paper. Fold the parchment paper in half, covering the dough. Roll out the dough to 1/4″ thickness. Place all the sheets of dough on a baking sheet and cover with plastic. Let refrigerate for 30-60 minutes.
Take a sheet of dough from the fridge and cut out the holly leaves.
Place on parchment covered baking sheet and bake for 7-8 minutes at 350 degrees. Place cookies on a wire rack and let them cool completely.
Pour the warm water and meringue powder into the bowl of a large mixer. Mix together with a whisk for 30 seconds. It will become frothy and thicker. Add the cream of tartar and mix again for 30 seconds more. Pour in all the confectioner’s sugar at once. Use the paddle attachment and start mixing on the lowest speed. Mix on that low speed for 10 minutes. Place frosting into a sealed container to keep fresh.
Add some green decorating color to white icing. Outline the color and then start filling in the color. Add 3 red hot candies to the pointy end. Let cookie dry.
Use white icing to write the guests name on the cookie. Place on the napkin as a place setting.