Starry Night Sugar Cookies (Printable Version)

Delicate vanilla cookies with dark blue marbled icing and edible stars for celestial celebrations.

# What You'll Need:

→ Sugar Cookies

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 until thoroughly combined. Set aside for later use.
02 - Beat butter and granulated sugar in a large bowl with electric mixer until light and fluffy, approximately 2-3 minutes.
03 - Add egg and vanilla extract to the butter mixture, mixing until fully incorporated and smooth.
04 - Gradually add dry ingredients to wet mixture, mixing just until dough forms. Avoid overmixing to prevent tough cookies.
05 - Divide dough in half, shape into flat discs, wrap tightly in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for 30 minutes until firm.
06 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
07 - Roll one dough disc at a time on lightly floured surface to 1/4-inch thickness. Cut shapes using star or round cookie cutters.
08 - Place cutouts on prepared baking sheets, spacing 1 inch apart to allow for slight spreading during baking.
09 - Bake for 9-11 minutes until edges are lightly golden. Cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to wire rack.
10 - Mix powdered sugar, 2 tablespoons milk, corn syrup, and vanilla in bowl until smooth. Add remaining milk if needed for thick but pourable consistency.
11 - Divide icing between two bowls. Tint one deep blue, the other black. Pour both colors into shallow dish and swirl gently without fully blending.
12 - Dip cooled cookies face-down into marbled icing. Immediately sprinkle with edible stars while wet. Let set for at least 30 minutes.

# Expert Hints:

01 -
  • The marbled icing creates a completely unique pattern on every single cookie
  • These feel like magic but use ingredients you already have in your pantry
02 -
  • The dough must chill before rolling or the cookies will spread too much in the oven
  • Work quickly when dipping the icing because it starts to set within a minute
03 -
  • Use a shallow dish wider than your cookies for the easiest dipping
  • Let the icing set for at least 30 minutes before stacking or storing

Go Back