# What You'll Need:
→ Dough
01 - 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 3/4 teaspoon baking powder
03 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
04 - 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
05 - 1 cup granulated sugar
06 - 1 large egg
07 - 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
→ Coloring and Decoration
08 - Red gel food coloring
09 - Green gel food coloring
10 - 1/3 cup colored sanding sugar (red and green), optional
# Step-by-Step Guide:
01 - Whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl; set aside.
02 - Beat butter and granulated sugar in a large bowl until light and fluffy, about 2 to 3 minutes.
03 - Add egg and vanilla extract to the butter mixture and beat until fully combined.
04 - Gradually blend in the flour mixture, stirring just until incorporated.
05 - Divide dough into three equal parts. Leave one plain, tint one with red gel coloring, and one with green, mixing each until color is uniform.
06 - Roll each dough portion between parchment sheets into rectangles approximately 9 by 6 inches, ensuring similar size and thickness; chill for 20 minutes.
07 - Stack dough rectangles placing plain on bottom, followed by red, then green; trim edges to align precisely.
08 - Roll dough tightly from the long side into a log, removing parchment as you roll; optionally roll log in colored sanding sugar for decoration.
09 - Wrap log in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours until firm.
10 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
11 - Cut chilled log into 1/4-inch thick rounds and place on baking sheets, spacing cookies 2 inches apart.
12 - Bake for 9 to 11 minutes until cookies are set but not browned. Cool on baking sheet for 3 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
