Description
These Festive Star-Shaped Cookies are a delightful holiday treat, perfect for Christmas celebrations or any festive occasion. These buttery, vanilla-scented cookies are easy to make and fun to decorate, making them a favorite for both baking novices and seasoned pros.
Ingredients
Scale
Dough:
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon almond extract (optional)
- Flour for rolling
Decorating:
- Decorative sugar or royal icing for decorating
Instructions
- Prepare the Dough: In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract if using, and mix until combined. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture and mix until a soft dough forms.
- Chill the Dough: Divide the dough into two discs, wrap in plastic, and chill for at least 1 hour.
- Roll and Cut: Preheat the oven to 350°F and line baking sheets with parchment paper. On a lightly floured surface, roll out one disc of dough to about 1/4-inch thickness. Use a star-shaped cookie cutter to cut out cookies and place them on the prepared baking sheets about 1 inch apart.
- Bake and Decorate: Bake for 8–10 minutes, or until the edges are just beginning to turn golden. Let cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. Decorate with icing or sprinkles once fully cooled.
Notes
- Chilling the dough helps the cookies keep their shape.
- You can freeze unbaked cutouts for up to 2 months—just bake from frozen, adding an extra minute or two to the baking time.
- For crispier cookies, bake a minute longer.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes (plus 1 hour chill time)
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 110
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 40mg
- Fat: 5g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 14g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 1g
- Cholesterol: 15mg
