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Christmas: Maple Stars

Source of Recipe


Bon Appétit, December 2005






List of Ingredients



• -- Cookies --
  
• 2-3/4 cups all-purpose flour
  
• 2 tsp baking powder
  
• 1/4 tsp salt
  
• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
  
• 1 cup sugar
  
• 1/2 cup (packed) golden brown sugar
  
• 1 large egg
  
• 2 tsp maple extract
  
• .
  
• -- Icing --
  
• 2-1/4 cups powdered sugar
  
• 3 Tbsp whole milk
  
• Bright white sparkling sugar crystals, or other white sprinkles
  






Instructions



1. For cookies: Whisk flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl to blend. Using electric mixer, beat butter and both sugars in large bowl until light and fluffy. Beat in egg and maple extract. Beat in flour mixture just until blended. Divide dough in half. Flatten each half into disk; wrap disks separately in plastic and chill until firm enough to roll, about 1 hour.
   
   
2. Preheat oven to 375° F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
   
   
3. Roll out one dough disk on lightly floured work surface to 11-inch round, about 1/3-inch thick. Using 2-inch star-shaped cookie cutter dipped into flour, cut out cookies from dough. Place cookies on prepared baking sheets, spacing 1 inch apart. Reroll dough scraps on lightly floured surface and cut out additional cookies. Repeat with remaining dough disk.
   
   
4. Bake cookies until lightly browned, about 12 minutes. Cool cookies on baking sheets 5 minutes, then transfer to racks and cool completely.
   
   
5. For icing: Stir powdered sugar and milk in medium bowl until smooth (icing will be thick). Using small offset spatula or butter knife, spread icing over top of one cookie, then sprinkle top with sugar crystals. Repeat with remaining cookies, icing and sugar crystals. Let cookies stand at room temperature until icing is dry and firm, at least 1 hour.
   
   Makes about 6 dozen.
   
   






Final Comments


Cookies can be made ahead. Store in single layer in airtight container at room temperature up to 5 days or freeze up to 2 weeks.

Bright white sparkling sugar crystals are available at some supermarkets, cake and candy supply stores, and online at lacuisineus.com.