Chai Tree and Snowflake Cookies

Ingredients

• 2 3/4 c. all-purpose flour
• 1/2 tsp. baking powder
• 1/4 tsp. Kosher salt
• 1 tsp. ground cinnamon
• 1 1/2 tsp. ground ginger
• 1/2 tsp. ground cloves
• 1/2 tsp. nutmeg
• 1/2 tsp. cardamom
• 1/8 tsp. black pepper
• 1 c. (2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temp
• 3/4 c. sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 1/2 tsp. pure vanilla extract
• Royal icing

Instructions

1. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, nutmeg, cardamom and 1/8 teaspoon black pepper.
2. In another large bowl, using electric mixer, beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Beat in egg and then vanilla.
3. Reduce mixer speed to low and gradually add flour mixture, mixing just until incorporated. Shape dough into 2 disks and roll each between 2 sheets of waxed paper to 1/8 inches thick. Chill until firm, 30 minutes in refrigerator or 15 minutes in freezer.
4. Heat oven to 350°F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper. Using floured cookie cutters, cut out cookies. Place on prepared sheets. Reroll, chill and cut scraps.
5. Bake, rotating positions of baking sheets halfway through, until cookies are light golden brown around edges, 10 to 12 minutes. Let cool on sheets 5 min. before transferring to wire racks to cool completely.
6. Decorate with royal icing and sprinkle with sugar mixed with ground cinnamon.