Pastel Star Sugar Cookies

Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).

In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.

In a large bowl, cream the softened butter and sugar using a mixer until the mixture turns fluffy and lighter in color.

Add the egg and vanilla extract to the creamed mixture and mix until combined.

Gradually add the dry flour mixture to the wet ingredients, stirring just until everything is blended into a smooth dough.

Divide the dough into portions based on the number of desired colors. Roll each portion into a ball and place in separate bowls.

To each bowl, add a small drop of gel food coloring and gently knead to distribute the color evenly. Add more coloring as needed to achieve the desired pastel shade.

Wrap each colored dough ball in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour to firm up.

After chilling, take one dough portion at a time and roll it out on a lightly floured surface to a thickness of about 1/4 inch.

Using cookie cutters of choice, cut out cookie shapes and place them about 1 inch apart on a parchment-lined baking sheet.

Bake in the preheated oven for 8-10 minutes, or until the edges just start to turn golden. Take care not to overbake for the best texture.

Allow cookies to cool on the sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.

Once cooled, decorate with royal icing, sprinkles, and optional edible glitter as desired. Let decorations dry fully before serving or storing.