Ingredients
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2 1/2 cups flour
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1 1/4 cups sugar
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1 tsp vanilla extract
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1 cup cold unsalted butter (2 sticks) cut into cubes
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1 egg yolk
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2 cups confectioners' sugar
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Festive string Ribbon
Steps
1
Sift flour into a bowl and stir in sugar and vanilla extract. Place butter in bowl. Knead the butter and flour mixture with your fingertips to form pea-sized pieces. Add the yolk and quickly knead the mixture into a cohesive dough using wet hands. Form the dough into a ball and wrap in plastic wrap. Place in the refrigerator for 30 min, to set. Meanwhile, preheat oven to 350°F.
2
When dough is ready, dust the work surface and rolling pin with flour, then roll out the dough into a ¼-inch thick layer, working quickly so the dough does not get too soft. Using a star shaped cookie cutter, cut out 25 stars. If dough gets too soft, place in the refrigerator to chill for a few minutes.
3
Set cookies on a parchment-lined baking sheet, spaced 2 inches apart, and use a straw or the blunt end of a skewer to cut a hole in the top of each star (for hanging). Bake for about 15 min. or until golden brown. Remove cookies from oven, and double-check to make sure the holes haven’t closed. If they have, redefine them before the cookies cool.
4
Transfer cookies to a wire rack to cool. When cooled, store in an airtight container until you are ready to decorate.
5
When ready to decorate cookies, mix confectioners sugar with 5 tbsp water to create a glaze. Brush the tops of the cookies with the glaze and let it harden, then thread a piece of ribbon through the hole in each cookie to create a garland for hanging on a tree or mantel.
Tips
Want some added variety? Throw in a snowflake cookie cutter during Step 2. You can also add small candies or sprinkles to your cookies; do this during Step 5, while the glaze is still wet.
