Surprise Sugar Stars Recipe

Ingredients

• 1 cup butter, softened
• 1-1/4 cups sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 4 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 2 teaspoons ground nutmeg
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2/3 cup buttermilk
• 1 can (21 ounces) cherry pie filling
• ICING:
• 2 cups confectioners' sugar
• 2 to 3 tablespoons milk
• 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
• Colored sugar, optional

Directions

• In a bowl, cream butter and sugar. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in vanilla. Combine the dry ingredients; add to the creamed mixture alternately with buttermilk. Refrigerate for 2-3 hours or until easy to handle.
• On a floured surface, roll out dough to 1/4-in. thickness. Cut with 2-in star cookie cutter or the cutter of your choice. Place half of the stars on ungreased baking sheets. Spoon 1-1/2 teaspoonfuls of pie filling into the centers of each. Top with remaining stars. Pinch edges to seal; cut a small slit in top of each cookie.
• Bake at 350° for 12-15 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool on wire racks.
• For icing, combine confectioners' sugar, milk and extract in a bowl; whisk until smooth. Spread over cookies. Sprinkle with colored sugar if desired. Yield: 4 dozen.

Surprise Sugar Stars published in Country Woman November/December 1998, p41