American Star Sugar Cookies (Printer-Friendly)
Buttery sugar cookies with vanilla and almond flavors, decorated with colorful star sprinkles for festive moments.
# List of Ingredients:
→ Cookie Dough
01 -
2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
02 -
1 teaspoon baking powder
03 -
1/2 teaspoon salt
04 -
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
05 -
1 cup granulated sugar
06 -
1 large egg
07 -
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
08 -
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
→ Icing
09 -
2 cups powdered sugar
10 -
3 tablespoons whole milk
11 -
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
12 -
1 tablespoon light corn syrup
13 -
Red, white, and blue star-shaped sprinkles
# Preparation Steps:
01 -
In a medium bowl, whisk together all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt until fully combined.
02 -
Using an electric mixer, beat the softened unsalted butter and granulated sugar until the mixture is fluffy and pale, about 2 to 3 minutes.
03 -
Incorporate the large egg into the creamed butter and sugar, then mix in vanilla and almond extracts until uniformly blended.
04 -
Gradually add the dry flour mixture to the wet ingredients, stirring gently until a soft dough forms without overmixing.
05 -
Shape the dough into a flat disc, wrap tightly with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour to reduce spreading during baking.
06 -
Preheat oven to 350°F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper. Roll chilled dough to approximately 1/4 inch thickness, dusting with flour to prevent sticking. Cut star shapes and place 2 inches apart on baking sheets. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes until edges are lightly golden. Allow to cool completely.
07 -
Whisk powdered sugar, whole milk, vanilla extract, and light corn syrup together until smooth and glossy to create the icing.
08 -
Spread the icing lightly over cooled cookies and immediately garnish with red, white, and blue star-shaped sprinkles. Let icing set fully before serving.
# Additional Suggestions:
01 -
For uniform cookie shapes, roll dough evenly to 1/4 inch thickness and chill cut shapes for 10 minutes before baking.
02 -
If icing thickens during decorating, incrementally add a small amount of milk or corn syrup to restore smooth consistency.
03 -
Store icing-dried cookies between layers of parchment paper in airtight containers at room temperature for optimal freshness.