Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper to prevent the cookies from sticking.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt. Set this mixture aside for later use.
3. In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened unsalted butter and granulated sugar using an electric mixer on medium speed until the mixture is light and fluffy, about 3-5 minutes.
4. Add the eggs, one at a time, to the butter and sugar mixture, mixing well after each addition. Then, add the vanilla extract and continue mixing until everything is well combined.
5. Gradually add the dry flour mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed until just combined. Be careful not to overmix the dough.
6. Divide the dough into four equal portions. Add a few drops of food coloring to each portion: purple, green, and gold. Leave one portion uncolored for a base color if desired. Mix each portion until the colors are evenly distributed.
7. Using your hands, shape each colored dough into a disk, wrap them in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for about 15 minutes to firm up the dough.
8. Once chilled, remove the dough from the refrigerator. On a lightly floured surface, roll out one portion of the dough to about 1/4 inch thickness. Use a mask-shaped cookie cutter to cut out cookies. Place the cut cookies onto the prepared baking sheets, leaving some space between them.
9. Repeat the rolling and cutting process with the remaining colored dough portions, ensuring you have an assortment of colors for your Mardi Gras theme.
10. Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden. Keep an eye on them to prevent overbaking.
11. Once baked, remove the cookies from the oven and let them cool on the baking sheets for about 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
12. While the cookies cool, prepare the royal icing according to your preferred recipe or package instructions. Divide the icing into separate bowls and tint each with the remaining food coloring to match your cookie colors.
13. Once the cookies are completely cool, use piping bags or small spatulas to decorate each cookie with the colored royal icing. Get creative with designs, adding details like sparkles or edible glitter if desired.
14. Allow the decorated cookies to set for at least 30 minutes before serving or storing. Enjoy your festive Mardi Gras Mask Cookies!