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

In a large mixing bowl, combine 14 oz of softened butter and 1 cup of white sugar, and cream them together until light and fluffy.

Add 2 eggs, 2 tsp of vanilla extract, 1 tsp of almond extract, and the zest of 1 orange (if using) and mix until well-combined.

Gradually add in 6 cups of plain flour, mixing on low speed until a dough begins to form.

Roll the dough out to about ¼-inch thickness and use cookie cutters to create festive shapes.

Chill the cookies on the baking sheets in the refrigerator for 10-15 minutes.

Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes, until golden around the edges.

Let the cookies cool on the baking sheets for about 5 minutes, then transfer them to wire racks.

Prepare the icing by whisking together 6 tbsp of meringue powder, 8 tbsp of water, and 2 tsp of lemon juice, then gradually add 7 cups of sifted powdered sugar until smooth.

Divide the icing into bowls and color with gel food coloring, then decorate the cooled cookies and let the icing set for at least 30 minutes.