Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line your baking sheets with parchment paper.

Cream together 1 cup of softened butter and 1 cup of white sugar until fluffy and light, about 3-4 minutes.

Add in 2 large eggs, 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract, 1 teaspoon of almond extract, and the zest of 1 orange. Beat on low speed until combined.

Gradually mix in 3 cups of plain flour. If the dough is too dry, add milk a tablespoon at a time.

Roll the dough out to ¼-inch thickness, cut into shapes, and chill for 10-15 minutes.

Bake for 10-12 minutes until just turning golden at the edges.

Prepare the royal icing by mixing 2 tablespoons of meringue powder, 1 tablespoon of lemon juice, and 5 tablespoons of water. Gradually add 4 cups of powdered sugar and beat until glossy.

Divide the royal icing and add gel food coloring as desired. Decorate the cookies and allow the icing to set.