Cream sugar, butter, vanilla and egg until light and fluffy. Stir in remaining ingredients until dough forms; refrigerate 1 hour.

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.

Roll dough into 1" balls and place on parchment-lined cookie sheet.

Bake 6-8 minutes or until lightly browned, let cool completely.

Mix powdered sugar, light corn syrup and milk together in small bowl. Add additional milk to thin icing, if necessary.

Apply cookie glaze to cookie, let set.

Combine powdered sugar and meringue powder in stand mixer bowl, whisk together by hand. Add 6 tbsp water to mixture, add lemon juice or vanilla extract, if desired.

Start mixing on the slowest speed with paddle attachment until well mixed. Gradually turn mixer up to medium/medium-high speed, beat until icing is fluffy. Add water (a few drops of at a time) until desired consistency is reached. Mix black food coloring into icing, put in piping bag.

Draw numbers and hands on clock (clock should read 11:55). Serve and ring in the new year!