Meet your new favorite holiday treat: Star Cookies! These delightful, buttery sugar cookies have just the right amount of sweetness and a rich, tender crumb that’s perfect for any occasion—whether you’re baking with kids, hosting a cozy get-together, or gifting a homemade batch to friends. With their charming star shapes and endless decorating options, Star Cookies never fail to bring smiles and a sprinkle of festive magic to any table.
Ingredients You’ll Need
The beauty of Star Cookies is that they rely on simple, reliable ingredients, but each one plays a special role. From the creamy butter to the fragrant vanilla and (optional) almond extracts, every ingredient contributes its own magic to the dough. Here’s what you’ll need to create cookies that truly shine:
- All-purpose flour: The structure and foundation for your cookies—make sure to measure carefully for perfect texture!
- Baking powder: Provides a gentle lift so your Star Cookies aren’t too dense or flat.
- Salt: Just enough to balance the sweetness and accentuate the buttery notes.
- Unsalted butter (softened): Key to a rich flavor and melt-in-your-mouth crumb; leave it out to soften in advance.
- Granulated sugar: Keeps the cookies sweet and gives them their classic sugar cookie bite.
- Large egg: Binds everything together while adding moisture and tenderness.
- Vanilla extract: Infuses your Star Cookies with warm, unmistakable bakery aroma.
- Almond extract (optional): Adds a subtle nutty allure that makes these cookies unforgettable—it’s optional, but highly recommended if you love a hint of marzipan.
- Powdered sugar or icing: For that finishing sparkle—dust lightly, or go wild with creative designs!
How to Make Star Cookies
Step 1: Combine Dry Ingredients
In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt. Mixing these dry ingredients first ensures that your cookies bake evenly, with a delicate and tender crumb from edge to center.
Step 2: Cream Butter and Sugar
Grab a large mixing bowl and cream your softened butter with granulated sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy. This step is crucial—it aerates the dough, giving your Star Cookies their irresistible texture and golden edges.
Step 3: Add Egg and Extracts
Now, beat in the egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract (if you’re using it). The egg lends richness and structure, while the extracts fill your kitchen with that sweet, inviting bakery aroma we all love.
Step 4: Bring Dough Together
Gradually add your dry ingredients into the butter mixture, mixing just until a soft—but not sticky—dough forms. Take care not to overwork the dough, or your cookies could turn out tough rather than tender.
Step 5: Chill the Dough
Divide dough into two halves, flatten each into a disc, and wrap in plastic wrap. Chill for at least 1 hour. This rest makes rolling easier and helps the cookies hold their crisp star shapes during baking.
Step 6: Shape and Cut Star Cookies
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C), and line your baking sheets with parchment. On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough to about 1/4 inch thick. Grab your favorite star-shaped cookie cutters and press out cookies, then arrange on the sheets with a bit of space between each one.
Step 7: Bake to Perfection
Bake the Star Cookies for 8–10 minutes, watching closely—their edges should be just lightly golden. Cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to finish cooling completely.
Step 8: Decorate and Enjoy
Once your cookies are fully cooled, it’s time to make them sparkle! Dust with powdered sugar for a wintry finish, or decorate with icing, sprinkles, or edible glitter for maximum holiday flair.
How to Serve Star Cookies
Garnishes
For a simple, elegant look, a gentle snowfall of powdered sugar is all you need. If you want the cookies to really stand out, whip up a batch of royal icing and accent each star with colorful sprinkles or edible glitter. Kids especially love getting to customize their own Star Cookies!
Side Dishes
Serve Star Cookies with a mug of hot cocoa, spicy chai, or your favorite coffee for the perfect afternoon treat. They also pair beautifully with bowls of fresh berries or a scoop of vanilla ice cream if you want to turn dessert into something extra special.
Creative Ways to Present
Arranging Star Cookies in cellophane bags tied with ribbon makes for sweet, thoughtful gifts—perfect for holidays, birthdays, or party favors. For a stunning dessert table, stack cookies at varying heights on cake stands and tuck in festive decorations like pine boughs, ornaments, or fairy lights. You could even hang decorated cookies as edible ornaments!
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Keep leftover Star Cookies fresh by storing them in an airtight container at room temperature. They’ll stay delicious for up to a week, and you can layer parchment between them to help preserve that just-baked crispness.
Freezing
If you want to get ahead on your holiday baking, you’ll be happy to know Star Cookies freeze beautifully. Simply freeze the raw dough discs, tightly wrapped, for up to a month—thaw overnight in the fridge before rolling and baking. You can also freeze the baked cookies (un-iced) for up to 3 months in a zip-top bag or airtight container.
Reheating
Baked Star Cookies don’t necessarily need reheating, but if you’d like to refresh their texture, pop them in a 300°F oven for 2–3 minutes. Let cool before serving to ensure the icing (if any) doesn’t melt.
FAQs
Can I use salted butter instead of unsalted?
Yes! If you only have salted butter on hand, reduce the added salt in the recipe to 1/4 teaspoon. The cookies will still taste wonderfully rich and delicious, though you may notice a slightly saltier flavor.
Do I really need to chill the dough?
Absolutely—you don’t want to skip this step! Chilling helps the dough firm up, which makes the cookies easier to cut and ensures they keep their crisp star shapes while baking.
How thick should I roll the dough for perfect Star Cookies?
For best results, roll the dough out to about 1/4 inch thick. This gives you cookies with the right amount of chew and enough sturdiness for decorating.
Can I make and decorate Star Cookies with kids?
Star Cookies are ideal for baking with children! Let little hands help with cutting out stars and decorating with icing and sprinkles—just be sure to supervise, as the dough can be a bit sticky until well chilled.
What’s the best way to decorate without icing?
A dusting of powdered sugar looks gorgeous and takes only seconds. You can also try brushing warm cookies with a little melted butter and sprinkling with cinnamon sugar for a delightful flavor twist.
Final Thoughts
If you’re searching for a cookie recipe that’s both delightfully classic and endlessly customizable, look no further than Star Cookies. They’re easy to make, always a crowd-pleaser, and such a joy to give (or simply share at home). So gather your star cutters and get baking—you’ll fall in love with every bite!
