These delightful star cookies bring a touch of magic to any celebration. Infused with warm maple and cinnamon, they are incredibly festive and flavorful. Our simple cut-out dough recipe makes them beginner-friendly and fun to bake. Get ready to create beautiful, delicious treats that everyone will adore with this easy recipe for star cookies.
Table of Contents
Why You’ll Love These Star Cookies
These maple cinnamon star cookies are a true delight, perfect for busy parents and new bakers. You’ll quickly discover why they are a favorite:
- Irresistible Flavor: Enjoy the cozy warmth of cinnamon perfectly balanced with sweet maple. These flavors shine in every bite.
- Wonderful Texture: Expect crisp edges and a wonderfully soft, tender center. Each cookie offers the ideal chew.
- Festive Appearance: Their elegant star shapes make them perfect for holidays or any special occasion. These cookies look beautiful on any platter.
- Simple Decorating: A quick dip in white chocolate adds a touch of gourmet elegance without complicated techniques. Gold sprinkles provide a shimmering finish.
- Beginner-Friendly Dough: The straightforward sugar cookie dough is easy to handle and forgiving. You will love how simple it is to achieve perfect cut-out star cookies.
Ingredients
Gather your simple ingredients to create these delightful maple cinnamon star cookies. Using quality ingredients ensures the best flavor and texture.
- 2 and 1/4 cups (281g) all-purpose flour, spooned & leveled, plus extra for rolling
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 cup (12 Tbsp; 170g) unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
- 3/4 cup (150g) granulated sugar
- 1 large egg, at room temperature
- 1 and 1/2 teaspoons maple extract*
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- Gold sprinkles and/or edible glitter stars
- Optional: 8 ounces white chocolate, coarsely chopped
Notes & Substitutions
Accurate measurement is key for perfect cookies. To ensure accuracy in your baking, understanding the proper technique for measuring flour is key. Always spoon and level your flour for the correct amount. Ensure your butter is truly at room temperature; it should yield slightly to a gentle press. For the distinct maple flavor, use maple extract, not maple syrup, as syrup can alter the dough’s consistency. If you choose to dip, use pure white chocolate for the best melting and setting results.
Equipment
Having the right tools makes baking these star cookies even easier. Here is a list of what you will need:
- Medium and large mixing bowls
- Electric mixer (handheld or stand mixer with paddle attachment)
- Rolling pin (an adjustable one is helpful for even thickness)
- Parchment paper or silicone baking mats
- Baking sheets
- Star cookie cutters of your preferred size
- Wire cooling rack
- Microwave-safe bowl (for melting chocolate, if decorating)
Instructions
Baking delicious star cookies is a breeze with these step-by-step instructions. Follow along for perfect results every time.
Preparing the Dough
First, whisk the 2 and 1/4 cups of flour, ground cinnamon, baking powder, and salt together in a medium bowl. Set this dry mixture aside for now. In a large bowl, use an electric mixer to beat the softened butter and granulated sugar on high speed. Continue beating until the mixture is completely smooth and creamy, which takes about two minutes. Next, add the large egg, maple extract, and pure vanilla extract to the butter mixture. Beat on high speed for about one minute until everything is well combined. Remember to scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl as needed to ensure all ingredients are incorporated. Gradually add the whisked dry ingredients to the wet ingredients. Mix on low speed just until they are combined. The dough will feel a bit soft at this stage. If the dough seems too soft or sticky to handle, add one more tablespoon of flour.
Chilling & Cutting
Divide the dough into two equal parts. Place each portion onto a piece of lightly floured parchment paper or a lightly floured silicone baking mat. With a lightly floured rolling pin, roll each dough portion out to an even 1/4-inch thickness. You can use more flour if the dough becomes sticky during rolling. The rolled-out dough can be any shape, as long as it maintains the consistent thickness. Lightly dust one of the rolled-out doughs with flour and place a piece of parchment paper on top. This prevents sticking. Place the second rolled-out dough on top of the first. Cover the stacked dough with plastic wrap or aluminum foil. Refrigerate the dough for at least one to two hours, or up to two days.
Once the dough is thoroughly chilled, preheat your oven to 350°F (177°C). Line two to three large baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats. Carefully remove the top piece of chilled dough from the refrigerator. If it sticks, gently run your hand underneath to help release it. Use your star cookie cutter to cut out the shapes. Carefully transfer these cut cookie dough stars to your prepared baking sheet. Gather and re-roll any remaining dough scraps, then continue cutting out more star cookies until all the dough is used. Repeat this process with the second piece of dough. You’ll be surprised how many delicious cookies you get, especially from re-rolling the scraps!
Baking & Decorating
Before baking, gently press gold sprinkles onto the surface of each cookie. Use a spoon to press them firmly into the dough, ensuring they stay secure during baking. Bake the cookies for 11-12 minutes, or until the edges are lightly browned. If your oven has hot spots, rotate the baking sheets halfway through the baking time for even results. Allow the baked cookies to cool on the baking sheet for five minutes. Afterward, carefully transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.
If you are decorating, melt the coarsely chopped white chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl. Heat it in 20-second increments, stirring well after each interval until the chocolate is completely smooth. Dip the cooled star cookies into the melted white chocolate, covering part or all of the cookie. Let the chocolate set completely at room temperature or by placing them in the refrigerator for a quicker set.
Pro Tips & Troubleshooting
Achieving perfect star cookies is simple with a few helpful pointers.
- Always lightly flour your work surface, hands, and rolling pin to prevent sticking.
- Roll your dough out before chilling it. Rolling cold dough is much harder.
- Proper chilling of cookie dough is a critical step in baking, impacting texture and preventing unwanted spread, as explained by King Arthur Baking Company.
- Chill the dough thoroughly for the recommended time. This step is crucial to prevent the cookies from spreading in the oven and helps them maintain their crisp shape.
- Using parchment paper makes transferring the rolled dough and cut cookies much easier.
- Avoid over-baking the cookies to ensure they retain their soft, tender centers. Watch for lightly browned edges.
- If your cookies turn out dry, check that your dough was rolled to 1/4-inch thickness and that you didn’t bake them for too long.
Serving Suggestions, Storage & Variations
These delightful star cookies are versatile and easy to enjoy in many ways.
Serving
Serve your maple cinnamon star cookies plain for a simple treat, or elevate them with a white chocolate dip. For an extra festive touch, add more gold sprinkles or edible glitter stars right after dipping. They pair wonderfully with a warm cup of coffee, a soothing tea, or a cold glass of milk.
Storage & Freezing
Store your baked star cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week. For longer storage, freeze undecorated baked cookies in a freezer-safe bag or container for up to three months. You can also freeze unbaked dough disks, tightly wrapped, for up to three months. Thaw frozen dough in the refrigerator overnight before rolling and baking as usual.
Creative Variations
Unleash your creativity with these star cookies!
- Experiment with different extracts like almond or orange for new flavor profiles.
- Add a pinch of ground nutmeg or ginger to the dough for an extra layer of spice.
- Use various cookie cutter shapes to suit any occasion.
- Drizzle the cooled cookies with dark or milk chocolate instead of dipping in white chocolate.
- For intricate designs, decorate your star cookies with royal icing.
Nutrition Information
Here is an estimated nutrition breakdown per cookie for these delightful star cookies, based on a yield of approximately 3 dozen.
| Nutrient | Amount (per cookie) |
|---|---|
| Calories | 110 kcal |
| Total Fat | 6g |
| Saturated Fat | 3.5g |
| Cholesterol | 15mg |
| Sodium | 45mg |
| Total Carbohydrates | 13g |
| Dietary Fiber | 0g |
| Total Sugars | 7g |
| Protein | 1g |
Note: These values are estimates and can vary based on specific ingredient brands and preparation methods. This information is provided for general guidance.
FAQ
- Why chill the cookie dough? Chilling is essential. It firms up the butter, preventing the cookies from spreading too much during baking and helping them hold their distinct star shape.
- Can I use real maple syrup? It’s not recommended. Maple syrup introduces too much liquid, which can alter the dough’s consistency and lead to a softer, less stable cookie.
- How to prevent sticky dough? Ensure your butter is softened to room temperature, not melted. Proper flour measurement and chilling also help manage stickiness for these star cookies.
- Can I make these ahead of time? Absolutely! You can prepare and freeze the unbaked dough, or bake the cookies and freeze them (undecorated) for future enjoyment.
- What if my cookies spread? This usually happens if the dough was too warm or wasn’t chilled long enough. Make sure to follow the chilling instructions carefully.
- How long do these cookies last? Baked and stored in an airtight container at room temperature, these cookies will stay fresh for up to one week.
Conclusion
These maple cinnamon star cookies are more than just a treat; they’re a delightful way to add warmth and cheer to any moment. Their irresistible flavor, charming star shape, and simple preparation make them a perfect baking project for anyone. We encourage you to try this easy-to-follow recipe and create your own batch of beautiful star cookies. Share your festive creations and spread the joy!
Perfect Star Cookies: Easy Cut-Out Recipe with Maple & Cinnamon
Equipment
- Medium bowl
- Large bowl
- Handheld or Stand Mixer
- Paddle Attachment
- Parchment paper
- Silicone baking mat
- Rolling Pin
- Plastic wrap
- Aluminum foil
- Cookie cutter (star shapes)
- Baking sheets
- Spoon
- wire rack
- Microwave
Ingredients
Maple Cinnamon Star Cookies
- 2 and 1/4 cups (281g) cups all-purpose flour spooned & leveled, plus more as needed for rolling and work surface
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 cup (12 Tbsp; 170g) cup unsalted butter softened to room temperature
- 3/4 cup (150g) cup granulated sugar
- 1 large large egg at room temperature
- 1 and 1/2 teaspoons maple extract
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- gold sprinkles and/or edible glitter stars
- 8 ounces white chocolate coarsely chopped (optional)
Instructions
Instructions
- Whisk together flour, cinnamon, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl, then set aside.
- In a large bowl, beat softened butter and granulated sugar with a mixer until smooth and creamy for about 2 minutes. Add the egg, maple extract, and vanilla extract, then beat for about 1 minute until combined, scraping the bowl as needed.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture and mix on low speed until just combined; the dough will be soft. If too sticky, add an additional tablespoon of flour.
- Divide the dough into two equal parts and roll each portion to about 1/4-inch thickness on lightly floured parchment paper or a silicone mat, using more flour if necessary.
- Lightly dust one rolled dough with flour, cover it with a piece of parchment, and place the second rolled dough on top. Cover the stacked doughs with plastic wrap or foil and refrigerate for at least 1-2 hours, or up to 2 days.
- Once chilled, preheat the oven to 350°F (177°C) and line 2-3 baking sheets with parchment paper. Carefully remove the top dough, cut star shapes with a cookie cutter, and transfer them to the prepared baking sheets. Reroll scraps and continue cutting until all dough is used, then repeat with the second piece of dough.
- Before baking, top the cookies with sprinkles, pressing them gently with a spoon to ensure they adhere securely.
- Bake for 11-12 minutes until the edges are lightly browned, rotating sheets halfway if your oven has hot spots. Let cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely before dipping in chocolate.
- If using, melt coarsely chopped white chocolate in the microwave in 20-second increments, stirring after each, until smooth. Dip the cooled cookies into the melted chocolate and allow the chocolate to set completely at room temperature or in the refrigerator.
