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Spiced Shortbread Stars

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Spiced Shortbread Stars are buttery, melt-in-your-mouth Christmas cookies infused with cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves for a festive twist. They’re easy to make, perfect for gifting, and bring nostalgic comfort to any holiday gathering.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 1/2 cup powdered sugar
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/4 cup cornstarch
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger (optional)
  • Coarse sugar or sparkling sanding sugar, for decorating
  • Edible gold dust (optional, for decorating)

Instructions

  1. In a large bowl, beat unsalted butter with powdered sugar using a hand or stand mixer on medium speed for about 2 minutes, until light and fluffy.
  2. Sift together flour, cornstarch, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and optional ginger in a separate bowl.
  3. Gradually add the dry mixture to the butter-sugar blend, mixing at low speed until a soft dough forms. If crumbly, gently knead together by hand.
  4. Flatten dough into a disk, wrap in plastic wrap, and chill for 20-30 minutes in the refrigerator (or 10 minutes in the freezer if short on time).
  5. Preheat oven to 325°F (160°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
  6. Lightly flour your work surface and rolling pin. Roll dough to about 1/4 inch thickness. Cut out star shapes with cookie cutters, rerolling scraps as needed.
  7. Place stars on prepared sheets, about 1 inch apart. Sprinkle with coarse sugar or sanding sugar. If using edible gold dust, dust lightly after baking.
  8. Bake for 12-15 minutes, until edges are lightly golden and centers set.
  9. Let cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack.
  10. Once fully cooled, enjoy right away or store in an airtight container.

Notes

Chilling the dough is essential for crisp shapes and minimal spreading. Use fresh spices for best flavor. For gluten-free or dairy-free adaptations, substitute with 1:1 gluten-free flour or plant-based butter. Decorate with coarse sugar, edible gold dust, or dip in chocolate for extra flair. Store in an airtight container for up to 7 days or freeze for up to 2 months.

Nutrition

Keywords: Christmas cookies, shortbread, spiced cookies, holiday baking, festive treats, easy cookie recipe, edible gifts

Find it online: https://lucydishes.com/spiced-shortbread-stars-easy-christmas-cookie-recipe-for-festive-holidays/