Desserts

Chocolate-Dipped Shortbread Stars

These cookies look so pretty but take very little time to decorate. The trick to great flavor is to combine the simple, buttery shortbread with the richness of bittersweet chocolate (though you can use whatever style of chocolate you prefer).

By Amy Traverso

Oct 25 2022

YK1122_Star-Cookies-2

Chocolate-Dipped Shortbread Stars

Photo Credit : Kristin Tieg | Food Styling by Liz Neily

These cookies look so pretty but take very little time to decorate. The trick to great flavor is to combine the simple, buttery shortbread with the richness of bittersweet chocolate (though you can use whatever style of chocolate you prefer).

Ingredients

16 tablespoons (2 sticks) salted butter, softened
1 cup confectioners’ sugar
1 1⁄2 teaspoons almond extract
1 1⁄4 teaspoons ground cardamom (optional)
1⁄2 teaspoon table salt
1 3⁄4 cups all-purpose flour
1⁄4 cup cornstarch
5 ounces bittersweet or semisweet chocolate
Flaky sea salt (optional)

Instructions

Preheat your oven to 300 °F and set racks to the upper and lower third positions. Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside. In a large bowl, using a stand or handheld mixer, cream together the butter, sugar, almond extract, cardamom, and salt. Add the flour and cornstarch and beat until a dough forms. Gather into a ball, press into a disk, and wrap in plastic wrap. Refrigerate at least 1 hour and up to two days.

Gently roll the dough out onto a floured surface to a 1/4-inch thickness. Cut out your stars and transfer them to the prepared baking sheets. Gather and reroll the dough as needed.

Bake the cookies until pale golden brown, about 30 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool. When cooled, melt the chocolate in a double boiler or a microwave. Dip half of each cookie into the melted chocolate, then return to the parchment paper and sprinkle with sea salt, if using.