Step 1:
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Step 2:
In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.

Step 3:
In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Add the egg, vanilla extract, and milk, mixing until well combined.

Step 4:
Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until a soft dough forms.

Step 5:
Roll out the dough to ¼-inch thickness on a floured surface. Use a reindeer-shaped cookie cutter to cut out cookies and place them on the prepared baking sheet.

Step 6:
Bake for 8-10 minutes or until the edges are lightly golden. Let the cookies cool completely on a wire rack.

Step 7:
Prepare the royal icing and add gold food coloring if desired. Pipe the icing onto the cookies to create reindeer faces. Attach mini pretzels for antlers, red candies for noses, and mini chocolate chips for eyes while the icing is still wet.

Step 8:
Dust the cookies with edible gold glitter or luster dust for a magical, golden finish.