Starry Night Sugar Cookies (Print Version)
Vanilla sugar cookies with marbled blue-black icing and edible star sprinkles for a stunning celestial effect.
# What You'll Need:
→ Cookie Base
01 - 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
03 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
04 - 3/4 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
05 - 3/4 cup granulated sugar
06 - 1 large egg
07 - 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
→ Marbled Icing
08 - 2 cups powdered sugar, sifted
09 - 2-3 tablespoons milk
10 - 1 tablespoon light corn syrup
11 - 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
12 - Blue and black gel food coloring
13 - Edible gold or silver star sprinkles
# Directions:
01 - Whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl. Set aside for later use.
02 - Beat butter and granulated sugar in a large bowl until light and fluffy, approximately 2-3 minutes.
03 - Add egg and vanilla extract to the butter mixture. Mix until fully combined.
04 - Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing just until incorporated. Avoid overmixing.
05 - Divide dough in half and shape into discs. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
06 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
07 - On a lightly floured surface, roll one disc at a time to 1/4-inch thickness. Cut out stars or rounds with cookie cutters.
08 - Place cookies on prepared baking sheets, leaving 1 inch of space between each cookie.
09 - Bake for 9-11 minutes until edges are just golden. Allow to cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to wire rack to cool completely.
10 - Mix powdered sugar, 2 tablespoons milk, corn syrup, and vanilla extract until smooth. Add additional milk if needed to achieve thick but pourable consistency.
11 - Divide icing between two bowls. Tint one bowl deep blue, the other black. Gently swirl the two colors together in a shallow dish without fully mixing.
12 - Dip cooled cookies face-down into the marbled icing. Immediately sprinkle with edible stars. Allow icing to set for at least 30 minutes before serving.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The marble technique is deceptively simple but makes everyone think you took an art class
- These keep beautifully for days, assuming your family can resist eating them all first
02 -
- Work quickly once you start dipping because the icing begins setting almost immediately
- If your icing is too thick it will leave strange ridges, too thin and it will run off the edges
03 -
- Warm your cookie cutter between cuts to get cleaner edges that hold their shape better
- Place your icing bowl in the microwave for 5 seconds if it starts thickening up while you work