Print Options

Full Page
3x5
4x6

Include these items:

Photos
Nutritional Facts

Surprise Sugar Stars

Come holiday time, Joyce Berry rolls out dozens of these buttery cutout cookies in her Sandpoint, Idaho country kitchen. "The basic sugar cookie recipe is my mother's," she informs, "and I came up with the sweet 'surprise' inside."

48 ServingsPrep: 30 min. + chilling Bake: 15 min./batch + cooling

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
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
2 to 3 tablespoons whole milk
Colored sugar, optional

Directions

In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. 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, beating well after each addition.
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

2 of 2

Surprise Sugar Stars (continued)

Directions (continued)

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, in a small bowl, combine the confectioners' sugar, extract
and enough milk to achieve desired consistence. Spread over cookies.
Sprinkle with colored sugar if desired. Yield: 4 dozen.

Nutrition Facts: 1 serving (1 each) equals 131 calories, 4 g fat (2 g saturated fat), 19 mg cholesterol, 115 mg sodium, 22 g carbohydrate, trace fiber, 2 g protein.