Sparkling Holiday Star Cookies Recipe: Magical Festive Treats

Sweet memories often bloom around sparkling holiday star cookies that shimmer with festive cheer.

Delicate sugar-dusted edges catch light like miniature winter constellations.

Baking these treats connects you to cherished childhood moments of kitchen magic.

Childhood nostalgia blends perfectly with crisp, buttery textures that melt on your tongue.

Each star carries whispers of vanilla and warmth, promising delightful celebration.

Sprinkled with love and decorated with playful creativity, these cookies become more than dessert, they’re edible happiness waiting to spread joy.

Crunch into a star and let the holiday spirit dance across your palate.

Star Cookies That Add Sparkle to Any Holiday Spread

• Effortless Elegance: Whip up these stunning star cookies with minimal baking skills, making them perfect for both novice and experienced bakers.
• Festive Family Fun: Gather the kids to help cut out star shapes and decorate, creating memorable holiday bonding moments and spreading joy together.
• Quick and Dazzling Treats: Transform simple ingredients into show-stopping cookies that will impress guests and add a touch of sparkle to your holiday spread.
• Versatile Celebration Delight: Customize these cookies for various occasions by changing colors and decorations, making them ideal for birthdays, holidays, or special gatherings.

Holiday Star Cookies Ingredient List

• Flour: Provides the base structure for the cookies.
• Butter: Adds rich flavor and tender texture.
• Sugar: Brings sweetness and helps with cookie browning.
• Egg: Binds ingredients and adds richness.

• Vanilla Extract, Almond Extract: Adds depth and aromatic flavor to the cookies.
• Baking Powder: Helps cookies rise and become light.
• Salt: Balances and enhances overall flavor.

• Powdered Sugar, Milk: Creates smooth royal icing for decorating.
• Food Coloring, Edible Glitter, Sprinkles: Adds festive color and sparkle to the cookies.

Making Sparkling Star Cookies That Shine Bright This Season

Step 1: Mix Dry Ingredients

Grab a medium bowl and whisk together your flour, baking powder, and salt until they’re perfectly blended. The dry mix will serve as the foundation for your delightful holiday treats.

Step 2: Cream Butter and Sugar

In a large bowl, blend butter and sugar until the mixture becomes light, airy, and fluffy. This process creates a smooth, creamy base that gives cookies their melt-in-your-mouth texture.

Step 3: Add Wet Ingredients

Introduce egg, vanilla, and almond extract to your butter mixture. Blend everything smoothly until the ingredients are completely integrated and look silky.

Step 4: Combine Dry and Wet Mixtures

Gradually fold dry ingredients into wet mixture. Mix gently until just combined, being careful not to overmix. This ensures tender, delicate cookies.

Step 5: Chill the Dough

Wrap your cookie dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least one hour. Chilling helps cookies maintain their shape and develop richer flavors.

Step 6: Prepare Baking Space

Preheat oven to 350°F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper for easy cookie removal and cleanup.

Step 7: Roll and Cut Cookies

Dust your work surface with flour. Roll dough to ¼-inch thickness. Use star-shaped cookie cutter to create festive shapes.

Step 8: Bake Cookies

Place star cookies on prepared baking sheets. Bake for 8-10 minutes until edges turn light golden. Watch carefully to prevent overcooking.

Step 9: Cool Cookies

Transfer baked cookies to wire rack. Allow them to cool completely before decorating.

Step 10: Create Festive Icing

• Powdered sugar
• Milk

Adjust consistency as needed. Divide icing into separate bowls and add food coloring for vibrant designs.

Step 11: Decorate with Sparkle

Ice cookies while they’re cool. Immediately sprinkle with edible glitter or colorful sprinkles. Let icing set completely before serving or storing.

Cookie Tips That Make Holiday Stars Sparkle

• Chill Dough Perfectly: Refrigerate dough for at least an hour to prevent spreading and help cookies maintain their crisp star shape during baking.
• Roll with Precision: Use a light dusting of flour and roll dough to consistent ¼-inch thickness for even, professional-looking cookies that bake uniformly.
• Adjust Icing Consistency: Add milk or powdered sugar gradually to create smooth, pipeable royal icing that sets beautifully and holds decorative details.
• Freeze for Future Fun: Unbaked cookie dough can be frozen up to 3 months, allowing you to prepare batches in advance for spontaneous holiday baking.
• Swap Extracts Creatively: Replace almond extract with orange or peppermint extract to create unique flavor variations that match your holiday mood.

Tips for Keeping Holiday Star Cookies Tasty After Baking

• Store unfrosted cookies in an airtight container between parchment layers for up to 5 days. Keep them in the coolest part of the refrigerator to maintain freshness.
• Place completely cooled, undecorated cookies in a freezer-safe container with wax paper separating layers. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature before decorating.
• Warm refrigerated cookies in a preheated oven at 300°F for 3-5 minutes to restore crispness. Avoid microwaving to prevent softening the texture.
• Display decorated cookies on a serving plate, covered loosely with plastic wrap. Consume within 2-3 days for optimal taste and texture.

Star Holiday Cookies Festive Pairings

• Pair with Sparkling Beverages: Complement the festive cookies with champagne, prosecco, or a light sparkling white wine to enhance the holiday cheer and add effervescent elegance.
• Cozy Hot Cocoa Companion: Match the delicate star cookies with rich, creamy hot chocolate topped with marshmallows for a warm, indulgent contrast to the sweet, crisp cookie texture.
• Festive Cocktail Matching: Create a mini holiday bar with peppermint martinis or white chocolate liqueur to echo the cookie's almond and vanilla notes while adding a sophisticated adult twist.
• Dessert Wine Delight: Select a sweet dessert wine like moscato or ice wine, which will beautifully complement the cookie's delicate flavor and provide a luxurious finishing touch to your holiday treat.

Holiday Star Cookie Sparkling Ideas

• Gluten-Free Star Cookies: Replace wheat flour with almond or coconut flour for a celiac-friendly version. Use gluten-free baking powder and carefully check all ingredient labels.
• Vegan Holiday Stars: Substitute butter with coconut oil or vegan margarine. Replace egg with ground flaxseed mixed with water or commercial egg replacer. Use plant-based milk for icing.
• Low-Sugar Festive Option: Swap regular sugar with monk fruit sweetener or stevia. Reduce sugar quantity and use sugar-free sprinkles. Use Greek yogurt to maintain moisture in the cookie dough.
• Chocolate Peppermint Variation: Add cocoa powder to the base dough. Mix crushed candy canes into the icing or sprinkle on top. Replace almond extract with peppermint extract for an extra seasonal flavor boost.

FAQs

• What flour works best for these holiday star cookies?

All-purpose flour is perfect for this recipe. It provides the right texture and structure to create soft, delicate cookies that hold their star shape beautifully during baking.

• How can I prevent the cookie dough from sticking when rolling?

Generously dust your work surface and rolling pin with flour. If the dough becomes too soft, briefly return it to the refrigerator to firm up, which makes rolling and cutting much easier.

• Can I make the dough ahead of time?

Yes! The cookie dough can be prepared up to 3 days in advance and stored wrapped in plastic in the refrigerator. This makes holiday baking more convenient and allows the flavors to develop.

• Do I need special equipment to make these cookies?

A star-shaped cookie cutter is essential. While you can use a knife to cut shapes, a cookie cutter ensures uniform size and the festive star design that makes these cookies special.

Sparkling Holiday Star Cookies Recipe

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• Total Time: 1 hour 40 minutes
• Yield: 24 1x

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Description

Sparkling holiday star cookies bring festive cheer with their golden-edged, sugar-dusted shapes dancing across dessert tables. Guests will delight in these sweet, crisp treats that capture winter’s magical spirit while melting hearts with each delicate, buttery bite.

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Ingredients

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Primary Ingredients:

• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 large egg
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar

Flavor Enhancers:

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon almond extract (optional)

Baking Essentials:

• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt

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Instructions

1. Craft a delicate dough foundation by whisking flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium mixing vessel. In a separate spacious bowl, whip butter and sugar until they transform into a cloud-like, airy texture.
2. Incorporate egg, vanilla, and almond extract into the butter mixture, blending until silky and uniform. Gently fold dry ingredients into the wet components, mixing just until a cohesive dough forms.
3. Encase the dough in plastic wrap, allowing it to rest and chill in the refrigerator for a minimum of one hour, which helps develop richer flavors and prevents excessive spreading during baking.
4. Warm the oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper for easy cookie removal. Dust a clean work surface with flour to prevent sticking.
5. Roll out the chilled dough to a precise ¼-inch thickness, ensuring even baking and consistent cookie shape. Press star-shaped cookie cutter into the dough, creating festive holiday shapes.
6. Arrange cookie stars on prepared baking sheets, maintaining slight separation between each piece. Bake for 8-10 minutes until edges acquire a delicate golden hue.
7. Transfer baked cookies to a wire cooling rack, allowing them to reach room temperature and firm up completely.
8. Prepare royal icing by blending powdered sugar with milk, adjusting liquid to achieve desired consistency. Divide icing into separate bowls and tint with food coloring for vibrant decoration.
9. Embellish cooled cookies with colored icing, applying with precision. While icing remains wet, sprinkle edible glitter or festive sprinkles to create a sparkling, celebratory finish.

Notes

• Chilling the dough helps prevent spreading and maintains the star shape during baking.
• Use room temperature butter and egg for smoother, more even cookie texture.
• Substitute almond extract with more vanilla if nut allergies are a concern or prefer pure vanilla flavor.
• Roll dough between parchment paper to prevent sticking and ensure even thickness without excess flour.

• Prep Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
• Cook Time: 10 minutes
• Category: Desserts, Snacks
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 24
• Calories: 122
• Sugar: 3 g
• Sodium: 58 mg
• Fat: 7 g
• Saturated Fat: 4 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 15 g
• Fiber: 0.5 g
• Protein: 1.5 g
• Cholesterol: 23 mg