# What You’ll Need:
→ Sugar cookies
01 - 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
03 - 3/4 cup granulated sugar
04 - 1 large egg
05 - 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
06 - 1/2 teaspoon almond extract (optional)
07 - 1/2 teaspoon fine salt
→ Gold royal icing
08 - 3 cups powdered sugar, sifted
09 - 2 large egg whites (or 4 tablespoons meringue powder + 1/4 cup water)
10 - 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
11 - 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
12 - Edible gold luster dust
13 - Clear alcohol (vodka) or clear lemon extract, a few drops, for painting
# Directions:
01 - In a large bowl, beat the softened butter and granulated sugar with an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg, vanilla and almond extract (if using) until incorporated. In a separate bowl, whisk the flour with the salt, then add the dry mixture gradually to the butter mixture and mix just until a soft dough forms. Divide into two disks, wrap tightly and chill at least 30 minutes.
02 - Preheat the oven to 350°F. On a lightly floured surface, roll one disk to a 1/4-inch thickness. Use Taurus or zodiac cutters to stamp shapes, transferring cut cookies to a parchment-lined baking sheet, leaving about 1 inch between pieces.
03 - Bake the cookies 10 to 12 minutes, until the edges are just turning golden. Remove from the oven and transfer cookies to a wire rack to cool completely before decorating.
04 - Whisk the egg whites (or reconstituted meringue powder) to soft peaks, then gradually add the sifted powdered sugar and beat until stiff, glossy peaks form. Fold in the lemon juice and vanilla, then divide the icing into portions for tinting. Reserve a small amount of plain white icing for mixing with gold luster.
05 - Transfer icing to piping bags. Outline each cookie and flood the interior with thinner icing as needed. Allow the flooded surface to set for about 2 hours until firm to the touch.
06 - Mix edible gold luster dust with a few drops of vodka or clear lemon extract to make a paint. Using a fine brush, add Taurus symbols, constellations or accents once the base icing is fully dry. Allow gold paint to dry completely before handling.
07 - Arrange the decorated cookies in a gift box lined with parchment. Add an optional Taurus card or themed insert and allow any residual moisture to dissipate before sealing the box.
