Starry Night Sugar Cookies (Printable)
Vanilla cookies with swirling blue-black galaxy icing and edible star decorations for celestial celebrations.
# Ingredient List:
→ 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, softened
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
# How to Make:
01 - Whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl until evenly distributed. Set aside for later use.
02 - Beat softened butter and granulated sugar in a large bowl with electric mixer on medium-high speed until pale and fluffy, approximately 2-3 minutes. Scrape down bowl sides as needed.
03 - Add egg and vanilla extract to butter mixture. Beat on medium speed until fully incorporated and smooth, about 1 minute.
04 - Gradually add flour mixture to wet ingredients on low speed, mixing just until no dry streaks remain. Avoid overmixing to prevent tough cookies.
05 - Divide dough into two equal portions. Shape each into a flat disc, wrap tightly in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for 30 minutes until firm.
06 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside.
07 - Working with one disc at a time, roll dough on lightly floured surface to 1/4-inch thickness. Cut out star or round shapes with cookie cutters. Transfer to prepared baking sheets, spacing 1 inch apart.
08 - Bake for 9-11 minutes until edges are lightly golden. Cookies should still appear slightly soft in center. Let cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to wire rack to cool completely.
09 - Whisk powdered sugar, 2 tablespoons milk, corn syrup, and vanilla extract in a medium bowl until completely smooth. Add additional milk 1 teaspoon at a time if needed to achieve thick, pourable consistency.
10 - Divide icing between two small bowls. Tint one bowl with blue gel coloring to achieve deep navy shade. Tint remaining bowl with black coloring to achieve charcoal gray. Pour both colors side by side in a shallow dish and gently swirl with toothpick to marble without fully blending.
11 - Dip cooled cookies face-down into marbled icing, lifting with a twisting motion to create unique patterns. Immediately sprinkle with edible star sprinkles while icing remains wet. Place on wire rack and let set for at least 30 minutes until icing hardens.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The swirled dark icing makes every cookie look like a tiny galaxy
- They hold their shape perfectly while staying tender and melt-in-your-mouth soft
02 -
- Chilling the dough is non-negotiable, warm cookies will spread into blob galaxies
- The icing sets quickly, so work fast when adding those edible stars
03 -
- Use gel food coloring instead of liquid for the most vibrant deep colors
- Work quickly once the icing is on the cookies, those stars need to stick before the surface sets