Cookies: Beat the butter and sugar until light, using a stand mixer with the paddle attachment. Add the egg and vanilla and beat until combined.

Add the salt and flour and beat until you get a smooth dough.

Roll out the dough to a thickness of ¼-in (1 cm) on a lightly floured surface. Cover with plastic and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.

Preheat your oven to 350 F (175)—line 1 large or 2 small baking sheets with parchment paper.

Cut out Grinch shapes and stamp using the Grinch cookie cutter set (the link below). Transfer to the prepared baking sheet.

Bake for 10-12 minutes or until the edges are just golden brown.

Allow cookies to cool completely before decorating, or enjoy plain!

Royal Icing Using Meringue Powder: In the bowl of your stand mixer (or with a hand mixer), beat sugar and meringue powder until combined.

Add the water and beat on medium until stiff peaks, about 5 minutes.

Tint half of the icing with green food coloring gel (add a few drops of gel color and stir until the color is even and streak-free). I recommend adding in a drop or two at a time until you get a color you like.

Reserve 1/2 cup of white icing and tint the remaining icing with the red food coloring gel.

Scoop the icing into piping bags with # 1 or # 3 tips.

Decorate your Grinch cookies by first outlining the border and face features of Grinch face using green icing. Then fill in the middle with the green icing, leaving the eyes. Use a toothpick to fill in any gaps by spreading the icing around. Tap the cookie a few times to help the icing settle.

Fill eyes with the white icing. You can fill the nose, too, if desired or draw it later.

Now, outline the border of the fur part of the Grinch hat with the white icing and fill in the middle.

Using red icing, outline and fill the hat.

Fill the pompom part of the hat with white icing.

Dry for about 15-20 minutes.

Place 1/8-¼ teaspoon of Wilton black food coloring gel on the plate. Using a 1 mm brush, draw the face features and outline the Grinch hat. Be creative! It is fun to do it with kids.

Dry cookies at room temperature for 6-8 hours until the icing is completely firm.