Twinkling Star Ornaments
Bring a touch of magic to your holiday season with these delightful Twinkling Star Ornaments. Adapted from 'The Little Book of Christmas Cooking', this recipe boasts fun, easy-to-follow steps perfect for kids and adults to enjoy together. These charming cookies not only taste great but also make beautiful decorations for your Christmas tree! Once the cookies are baked, simply thread a festive ribbon through the holes and hang them on your tree for a stunning display. Just remember, if you choose to showcase them as ornaments, they’re not meant to be eaten. Get ready to create lasting memories as you craft these edible decorations with your loved ones!
N/A
Servings
30
Calories
6
Ingredients
Ingredients
brown sugar
1 cup (packed)
butter
2/3 cup (softened)
egg
1 small (beaten)
all-purpose flour
2 1/2 cups (sifted)
allspice
2 teaspoons (ground)
small hard candies
4 dozen (unwrapped)
Instructions
1
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
2
In a large mixing bowl, combine the brown sugar and butter. Use a wooden spoon to stir until the mixture is smooth and creamy.
3
In a separate bowl, crack the egg and whisk it with a fork until well beaten. Gradually mix the beaten egg into the butter and sugar mixture, stirring continuously to combine.
4
Sift the all-purpose flour and allspice together into the bowl with the wet ingredients. Stir with the wooden spoon until fully incorporated, ensuring no flour remains visible.
5
Using your hands, knead the dough gently until it forms a cohesive ball. If necessary, adjust with a little extra flour if the dough feels sticky.
6
Lightly flour a clean surface and your rolling pin. Roll out the dough to approximately 1/4 inch thickness, taking care not to over-flour the dough.
7
Draw an outline of a cookie sheet on parchment paper to help place your stars. Use a large star-shaped cookie cutter to cut out star shapes from the dough. Transfer these to the parchment-lined baking sheet.
8
Using a drinking straw, poke a hole through the top point of each star. Then, take a small round cookie cutter to make a hole in the center of each star, just large enough for your hard candy to fit through.
9
Gather the dough scraps, mold them back into a ball, and roll out again to cut more stars until all dough is used. Remember to make holes in these as well.
10
Place a piece of hard candy in the center of each star, mixing colors for an interesting visual effect.
11
Bake the stars on the middle rack of the preheated oven for 12 minutes, or until they are lightly golden.
12
Remove the cookies from the oven and let them cool completely on the baking sheets. Once cooled, carefully transfer them to avoid breakage. At this point, you can enjoy the cookies or make them into ornaments by threading festive ribbons through the holes.
Nutrition Information
1.5g
Fat
4.5g
Carbs
0.15g
Protein
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What are Twinkling Star Ornaments?
Twinkling Star Ornaments are delightful cookies that can be eaten or used as festive Christmas tree decorations.
What is the origin of this recipe?
This recipe is adapted from 'The Little Book of Christmas Cooking'.
Who is this recipe suitable for?
It features fun, easy-to-follow steps perfect for both kids and adults to enjoy together.
Can these star ornaments be eaten?
They are edible, however, if you choose to use them as ornaments on a tree, they are not meant to be eaten.
How do you hang the stars on a tree?
Once baked and cooled, thread a festive ribbon through the hole at the top and hang them on your tree.
What is the required oven temperature?
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit or 175 degrees Celsius.
How do I mix the butter and sugar?
In a large bowl, use a wooden spoon to stir the brown sugar and butter until the mixture is smooth and creamy.
How should the egg be prepared?
The egg should be cracked into a separate bowl and whisked with a fork until well beaten before being added.
What spices are used in the dough?
The dough is seasoned with two teaspoons of ground allspice.
Do I need to sift the flour?
Yes, sift the all-purpose flour and allspice together before mixing them with the wet ingredients.
How do I finish forming the dough?
Stir with a wooden spoon until incorporated, then use your hands to gently knead it into a cohesive ball.
What should I do if the dough feels sticky?
If the dough is sticky, you can adjust it by adding a little extra flour.
How thick should I roll out the dough?
Roll out the dough to approximately 1/4 inch thickness on a lightly floured surface.
How can I help place the stars correctly?
You can draw an outline of a cookie sheet on parchment paper to help guide the placement of your stars.
What type of cookie cutter is needed?
You will need a large star-shaped cookie cutter for the main shape and a small round cutter for the center.
How do I make the hole for the ribbon?
Use a drinking straw to poke a hole through the top point of each star before baking.
How do I create the center hole?
Use a small round cookie cutter to make a hole in the center large enough for a hard candy to fit through.
What do I do with the remaining dough scraps?
Gather the scraps, mold them back into a ball, and roll them out again to cut more stars until the dough is used.
How is the 'twinkle' effect achieved?
The effect is created by placing a piece of hard candy in the center hole of each star before baking.
Can I use different colored candies?
Yes, mixing various colors of hard candies creates an interesting and beautiful visual effect.
Where should the cookies be placed in the oven?
Bake the stars on the middle rack of your preheated oven.
How long do the stars need to bake?
Bake the cookies for approximately 12 minutes.
How do I know when the stars are finished baking?
The cookies are done when they appear lightly golden.
How should the cookies be cooled?
Let the cookies cool completely on the baking sheets before carefully transferring them to avoid breakage.
How many calories are in one cookie?
Each star ornament contains 30 calories.
What is the fat content per serving?
There is 1.5g of fat per cookie.
How many carbohydrates are in each star?
Each star contains 4.5g of carbohydrates.
How much protein is in the recipe?
Each cookie provides 0.15g of protein.
How many ingredients are required for this recipe?
There are 6 total ingredients: brown sugar, butter, egg, flour, allspice, and hard candies.
What are the primary tags for this recipe?
The recipe is tagged with cookies, Christmas, holiday treats, decorative cookies, and edible ornaments.