Description
These Festive Star-Shaped Cookies are a delightful, classic holiday treat perfect for any celebration. Made from a tender sugar cookie dough infused with vanilla and optional almond extract, these cookies hold their star shape beautifully and are decorated with colorful sugar or icing for a fun, festive look.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Wet Ingredients
- 3/4 cup unsalted butter (softened)
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon almond extract (optional)
Decoration
- Colored sugar or icing for decorating
Instructions
- Mix dry ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt until combined. Set this mixture aside for later use.
- Cream butter and sugar: In a large bowl, beat the softened butter and granulated sugar together using a mixer until the mixture is light and fluffy, about 2 to 3 minutes.
- Add egg and extracts: Incorporate the egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract (if using) into the creamed butter and sugar, mixing until fully combined.
- Combine dry and wet ingredients: Gradually add the dry flour mixture to the wet ingredients. Mix gently until a soft cookie dough forms, avoiding overmixing.
- Chill the dough: Divide the dough in half, shape each half into a flat disc, wrap in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour to firm up the dough.
- Prepare for baking: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
- Roll and cut cookies: On a lightly floured surface, roll out one chilled dough disc to about 1/4-inch thickness. Use star-shaped cookie cutters to cut out cookies and place them on the prepared baking sheets, spacing them about 1 inch apart.
- Decorate before baking: If desired, sprinkle the cookies with colored sugar for a sparkling effect before baking.
- Bake the cookies: Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 8 to 10 minutes, or until the edges begin to turn a light golden color.
- Cool and decorate: Remove the cookies from the oven and let them cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely. Once cooled, decorate with icing or additional sprinkles as desired.
Notes
- For extra sparkle, brush cookies with egg wash before sprinkling with sanding sugar prior to baking.
- These cookies maintain their shape well, making them ideal for holidays, birthdays, or special occasions.
