Description
Celebrate patriotic occasions with these delightful Star-Spangled Cookies. Soft, buttery sugar cookies are tinted in vibrant red and blue, cut into festive star shapes, and ready to be decorated. Perfect for Independence Day parties or any star-themed event, these cookies combine classic flavors with a fun, colorful twist.
Ingredients
Scale
Cookie Dough
- 1 cup unsalted butter (softened)
- ¾ cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 large egg yolk
- 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
- Gel food coloring (red and blue)
Royal Icing
- 3 cups powdered sugar (sifted)
- 3 Tablespoons light corn syrup
- 3-4 Tablespoons milk
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon almond extract (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) to ensure it’s ready for baking once your cookies are shaped.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large bowl, beat the softened unsalted butter and sugar together until the mixture is light and fluffy, creating a smooth base for your dough.
- Add Egg Yolk and Vanilla: Mix in the egg yolk and vanilla extract until fully incorporated for added richness and flavor.
- Incorporate Dry Ingredients: Gradually add the salt and all-purpose flour to the wet mixture, stirring gently until just combined to avoid overworking the dough.
- Color the Dough: Divide the dough evenly into two portions. Add red gel food coloring to one portion and blue to the other, kneading each until the color is uniform.
- Chill the Dough: Wrap each colored dough portion and chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes to firm up, making it easier to roll and cut.
- Roll and Cut: Roll out each dough portion on a lightly floured surface to about ¼ inch thickness. Use star-shaped cookie cutters to cut out the shapes.
- Bake Cookies: Place the cut-out cookies on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake in the preheated oven for about 10 minutes or until the edges start to turn golden brown.
- Cool Cookies: Remove cookies from the oven and transfer to a wire rack to cool completely before decorating.
- Prepare Icing (Optional): In a bowl, combine sifted powdered sugar, light corn syrup, milk, vanilla extract, and almond extract if using. Mix until smooth and use to decorate cooled cookies as desired.
Notes
- Ensure butter is softened to room temperature for easier creaming with sugar.
- Do not overmix the dough once flour is added to maintain tender cookies.
- Chilling the dough helps maintain the star shapes during baking.
- If gel colors are unavailable, use liquid food coloring but add sparingly to avoid altering dough consistency.
- The icing is optional but adds a beautiful, glossy finish and flavor.
- Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
