Almond Glazed Sugar Cookies

PREHEAT oven to 400°.

In a large mixing bowl, COMBINE butter, sugar, and almond extract; BEAT at medium speed, SCRAPING bowl often, until creamy (1-2 minutes).

REDUCE speed to low; ADD all remaining cookie ingredients; BEAT until well mixed (1-2 minutes).

ROLL dough into one-inch balls.

PLACE two inches apart on cookie sheet; FLATTEN balls to 1/4-inch thickness with the bottom of a buttered glass dipped in sugar.

BAKE until edges are very lightly browned, about 7 to 9 minutes.

COOL 1 minute; REMOVE from cookie sheet; COOL completely.

In small bowl, STIR together all glaze ingredients with wire whisk, ADD water as needed until glaze is of spreadable consistency.

SPREAD a coating of glaze over each cookie; PLACE 3 sliced almonds in a pinwheel shape on each cookie.