Directions
Cookies:
1. Whisk together first four ingredients in medium bowl.
2. Place butter and sugar in large bowl and, using electric mixer, beat until mixture is light and fluffy, about 1 minute. Beat in egg, followed by milk and lemon extract. Add flour mixture and blend until just mixed. Form dough into a disk, wrap tightly in wax paper, and chill at least 1 hour.
3. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Put oven rack in middle position. Remove dough from refrigerator and roll out to a 1/4″ thickness on lightly floured surface. Cut dough into desired shapes with lightly floured cookie cutters. Place cookies on ungreased baking sheet, spacing them 2″ apart, and bake 10 minutes or until pale brown around edges. Cool completely on rack.
Icing (Prepare while cookies cool):
1. Using electric mixer at low speed, blend egg whites, vanilla extract, and cream of tartar in medium bowl until frothy.
2. Gradually add sugar and beat at medium-high speed until icing thickens and stiffens, about 4 to 6 minutes.
3. Tint with food coloring if desired. Spread or pipe icing onto cooled cookies.
Cooking Tip: Tip: Royal icing recipes usually call for raw egg whites — the recipe uses the pasteurized variety to avoid the slight risk of Salmonella contamination.
Nutrition
Per serving (1 cookie): Calories 87.5, Fat 2.1g, Saturated fat 1.3g, Sodium 43 mg, Carbohydrates 16.0g, Total Sugars 13.1g, Dietary Fiber 0.4g, Protein 1g.