Best Sugar Cookies Recipe

Ingredients

• 1 cup (225 g or 2 sticks) unsalted butter, chilled
• 1 cup (200 g) sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/4 teaspoon almond extract
• 1 teaspoon lemon zest, from roughly 1 medium lemon
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 2 ounces (57 g, or 1/4 cup) cream cheese, at room temperature
• 1 large egg
• 3 cups (420 g) all-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour, for cutting out the cookies
• Colored sparkling sugar to decorate, optional
• Royal icing to decorate, optional