Vanilla Star Cookies

Ingredients:

1.      1 1/2c ap flour plus extra for dusting

2.      1 stick and about 2 ½-3T butter, cut into small pieces, plus extra for greasing

3.      3/4c sugar, plus extra for dusting

4.      1t vanilla extract

5.      1/2 t orange zest

Toppings:

6.      1/2c sliced strawberries

7.      1/4c sugar

8.      1 tub whipped cream

Directions:

1.      Sift the flour into a large bowl.

2.      Add the butter and rub it in your fingertips until the mix resembles fine bread crumbs.

3.      Stir in the superfine sugar (I used regular), vanilla extract, and zest and mix together to form a dough.

4.      Roll out the dough on a lightly floured counter to a thickness of 1”. (I didn’t roll out that thick, but just go with what you feel.) :)

5.      Stamp out the 12 hearts* with a heart-shaped cookie cutter measuring 2” across and 1” deep.

6.      Arrange the hearts on a lightly greased cookie sheet.

7.      Bake in preheated oven at 350F for 15-20min until golden brown.

8.      Transfer vanilla hearts to wire rack and let cool completely.

9.      Dust with super fine sugar OR strawberries and whipped cream.

Topping Directions:

1.      Slice strawberries.

2.      Put into a bowl.

3.      Add sugar to strawberries.

4.      Let sit on counter until ready to serve vanilla hearts.

You OBVIOUSLY don’t have to use a heart cookie cutter. For SOME reason, my mom didn’t have any cookie cutters so I had to use a sandwich star cutter. : ) Use what you have. You could even change this up around the holiday seasons and even add food coloring to make them more interesting! :) These cookies came out a hard cookie, so I’m not sure if I did something wrong but the picture in the book looks like a donut heart almost, but oh well, once adding strawberries and whipped cream it will soften.

I got this recipe from Cupcakes, Muffins, & Baked Goods, A Collection of easy and elegant recipes. From my aunt Shelley. It is a lovely book.  I’m having these with my  pollo ala crema. The cookie dough is egg free *whispers* “so feel free to reserve some cookie dough for eating!”. Haha! It really is very good.  And the orange zest adds such a fresh zing to the dough! You could use even use lemon and lime zest!

My cookies spread A LOT compared to the picture, obviously I don’t care cause they’re still yummy! If anything I will use them as sandwiches with the strawberries and whipped cream!