Painted Valentine's Sugar Cookies - Marla Meridith

Ingredients

• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened at room temperature for 1 hour
• 2 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 3 cups flour
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 box confectioners sugar
• 5 tablespoons meringue powder
• a scant 1/2 cup water for outlines (a bit more for flooding)
• gel food coloring for painting
• you will also need paint brushes