Creating Fourth of July Star Cookies is a fun process! Follow these simple steps for delicious results:

1. Preheat the Oven: Begin by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
2. Mix Dry Ingredients: In a bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set this mixture aside.
3. Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large mixing bowl, cream the softened butter with granulated sugar using an electric mixer until light and fluffy.
4. Add Wet Ingredients: Beat in the egg, vanilla extract, and optional almond extract until well combined.
5. Combine Mixtures: Gradually add the dry mixture to the wet ingredients. Stir until the dough forms and is smooth.
6. Chill the Dough: Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for about 30 minutes. This helps to firm up the dough and makes rolling easier.
7. Roll Out the Dough: On a lightly floured surface, roll out the chilled dough to about ¼ inch thickness.
8. Cut Cookies: Use a star-shaped cookie cutter to cut out cookies and place them on the prepared baking sheets, leaving space between each cookie.
9. Bake: Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for about 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden.
10. Cool: Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.
11. Decorate: Once cooled, use red, white, and blue icing or sprinkles to decorate the cookies. Get creative with designs that match the Fourth of July theme!

Following these steps will ensure you create delicious Fourth of July Star Cookies that are sure to be a hit at your celebration.