Step 1

Stir together flour

Step 2

baking soda

Step 3

cream of tartar and salt.

Step 4

Cream butter; gradually beat in sugar. Beat in egg and vanilla. Blend in dry ingredients

Step 5

part at a time. Divide dough in quarters. If necessary chill dough for ease in handling.

Step 6

On lightly floured surface roll dough to approx. 1/8 inch (3 mm) thickness. With floured cookie cutters cut into desired shapes.

Step 7

Place on unbuttered cookie sheets. Use a jumbo straw to cut out a circle in the top of each cookie. Bake at 400 ºF (200 ºC) 5 to 7 minutes.

Step 8

Beat egg yolk; divide in half; tint each half with food colouring.

Step 9

As soon as cookies come from the oven use egg yolk mixtures and small paint brushes to paint designs on cookies. Return cookies to oven. Bake 4 to 5 minutes more.