gel food colouring (colours depend on the flags being drawn)
270²µ/9¾´Ç³ú plain flour, plus extra for sprinkling
85g/3oz caster sugar
360²µ/12½´Ç³ú icing sugar, sieved, plus extra if needed
1 tsp vanilla bean paste (or extract)
180g/6oz salted butter, softened
60²µ/2¼´Ç³ú egg white (from approximately 2 free-range eggs), plus extra if needed