Christmas Stars
Festive Christmas Stars are buttery, sweet cookies with vanilla and almond flavors, perfect for holiday gatherings and decorating with colorful icing and sprinkles.
Ingredients
Instructions
- In a large mixer bowl with electric mixer at medium speed, cream shortening and sugar until light and fluffy.
- Beat in egg, milk, vanilla, and almond extract until well mixed.
- Wrap the dough and refrigerate until firm.
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Roll dough onto a lightly floured surface to 1/8-inch thickness.
- Cut out dough with star-shaped cookie cutter.
- Place on ungreased cookie sheet.
- Bake for 10 minutes or until lightly browned around edges.
- Cool on wire racks.
- Ice and decorate as desired.
Tips & Substitutions
For best results, ensure your shortening is at room temperature before creaming with sugar for a light texture. If you don't have almond extract, you can substitute an equal amount of vanilla extract. For added flavor, consider adding a pinch of nutmeg or cinnamon to the flour mixture. To prevent sticking, flour your cookie cutter before cutting each star shape.
Serving Suggestions
These Christmas Stars are delightful on their own but can be served with a variety of accompaniments. Pair them with a warm cup of spiced cider or hot chocolate for a festive touch. For a fun twist, decorate them with royal icing or colorful sprinkles to make them visually appealing for holiday gatherings. They also make great gifts when packaged in decorative tins.
Storage & Reheating
Store the cooled cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week. To keep them fresh longer, you can freeze the unbaked cut-out shapes between layers of parchment paper in a freezer-safe bag. When ready to bake, simply add a few extra minutes to the baking time after thawing.
Nutrition & Diet Analysis (per serving)
Each serving of Christmas Stars contains roughly 162 calories, with 2g protein, 25g carbohydrates, and 6g fat. It is a good source of calcium (10% of the Daily Value).
Estimated from ingredients & per-serving nutrition — verify against package labels for allergies or strict diets.
* % Daily Values based on a 2,000 calorie diet (FDA 2020).
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use butter instead of shortening?
Yes, you can substitute butter for shortening at a 1:1 ratio, which will give the cookies a richer flavor and slightly different texture. Just be sure to soften the butter before creaming with the sugar.
How can I make these cookies more festive?
To enhance the festive appeal, consider adding food coloring to your icing or using themed cookie cutters. You can also add edible glitter or sprinkle them with colored sugar before baking to create a cheerful look.
What can I do if the dough is too sticky?
If the dough is sticky, try chilling it longer in the refrigerator until it firms up. Alternatively, you can sprinkle a little extra flour onto your work surface and rolling pin to help with rolling out the dough more easily.
Nutrition is estimated from USDA FoodData Central ingredient data and may vary with brand, portion and preparation — see our methodology. This information is for general educational purposes only and is not medical or dietary advice (disclaimer).