Pisces Constellation Sugar Cookies (Print Version)

Soft vanilla sugar cookies decorated with constellation icing and star sprinkles for festive occasions.

# What You'll Need:

→ Cookie Dough

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

→ Decoration

08 - 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar, sifted
09 - 2 to 3 tablespoons milk
10 - 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
11 - Blue or navy gel food coloring
12 - Edible silver or gold star-shaped sprinkles
13 - Edible silver pearls or gold dragees for constellation points
14 - Edible glitter, optional

# How to Make It:

01 - In a mixing bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, beat butter and sugar together until light and fluffy, approximately 2 minutes.
03 - Add egg and vanilla extract to the butter mixture and blend until fully combined.
04 - Gradually add the dry ingredient mixture to the wet ingredients, stirring until a soft dough forms.
05 - Divide dough into two equal portions, flatten each into a disk, wrap in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
06 - Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
07 - On a lightly floured work surface, roll dough to 1/4 inch thickness. Cut into circles or star shapes using cookie cutters.
08 - Arrange cookies 1 inch apart on prepared baking sheets. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes until edges are just golden. Cool completely.
09 - Combine powdered sugar, 2 tablespoons milk, and vanilla extract in a bowl. Mix until smooth, adding additional milk as needed to reach desired consistency.
10 - Add blue or navy gel food coloring to the icing and stir until evenly tinted.
11 - Spread or pipe icing onto cooled cookies. While icing remains wet, arrange edible pearls or dragees to form the Pisces constellation pattern.
12 - Distribute star-shaped sprinkles around the constellation design and sprinkle with edible glitter if desired.
13 - Allow icing to cure completely before serving or storing.

# Additional Tips::

01 -
  • They're easier to decorate than they look, which means even your shaky-handed first attempt will impress people.
  • The vanilla base is neutral enough that everyone loves them, but the starry presentation makes you seem like you spent hours planning.
  • You can make the dough days ahead and just bake and decorate when you're ready, which is secretly the best part about cookie recipes.
02 -
  • Don't skip the chilling step thinking you'll save time—warm dough spreads too much and you'll end up with flat, puffy shapes that don't hold their definition.
  • Room temperature ingredients (especially your egg) make an enormous difference in how smoothly everything combines; cold eggs can make your dough grainy and uneven.
  • The icing needs to be the right consistency—thick enough to hold a shape but still wet enough to adhere to the cookie; if it firms up before you finish decorating, thin it with another drop of milk.
03 -
  • Use gel food coloring instead of liquid because it won't thin your icing and the color stays truer and more vibrant.
  • Chill your dough disks standing up in the fridge rather than lying flat, which prevents them from sticking together and makes them easier to work with.
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