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    Home ยป Recipes ยป Cookies

    Galaxy Cookies

    Updated: Mar 22, 2018 ยท Published: Sep 2, 2016 by Sam Merritt ยท 80 Comments

    This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Please read my disclosure policy.
    Jump to Recipe

    Galaxy Cookies: Star shaped cutout cookies with a galaxy glaze

    Galaxy Cookies -- these cookies are BEAUTIFUL and way easier to make than you'd think!!

    It’s taken me every ounce of self restraint with these cookies to not say something super cheesy like “they’re outta this world”.  Because, while they totally, absolutely are, you don’t need cute quips to inform you of that, do you?  These cookies make their own statements, and none of them are mundane.

    I’ve been seeing some pretty incredible galaxy desserts all over the internet recently, and wanted to offer up my own spin on these out of this world desserts.  They’re not difficult to make, but there are quite a few steps involved, so let’s get started.

    Galaxy Cookies -- these cookies are BEAUTIFUL and way easier to make than you'd think!!

    Galaxy Cookies -- these cookies are BEAUTIFUL and way easier to make than you'd think!!

    The patterns and whorls of these galaxy cookies look complex and intricate, but the process for making them is actually really, really simple.

    Use a toothpick to dab bright pink, blue, and purple food coloring into a simple vanilla glaze, and then drag the toothpick around the surface until the swirls look spacey enough.  You literally cannot mess this step up — every slip of the toothpick just makes things more interesting (just… don’t over stir or all the colors will run together).

    Then dip the face of each cutout cookie into the surface of the glaze until it is completely coated, remove, and allow it to set on a cookie sheet until hardened.  I’ve said this before, but for a person with as little patience as me this is completely true — the hardest part is waiting.

    I let my cookies set overnight so I know the glaze is fully set, but you can wait as little as 30 minutes if you don’t mind slightly soft glaze.

    Galaxy Cookies (1 of 1)-2

    Galaxy Cookies -- these cookies are BEAUTIFUL and way easier to make than you'd think!!

    There are some important notes about these cookies that I want to make; be sure to go over these before you begin.  They are simple tips that will make this process even easier:

    • Choose an extract that you really like to flavor the glaze.  I found simply using vanilla to be too plain and it left too much space for that bitter food coloring flavor.  I recommend using half a teaspoon of vanilla and then ยผ-1/2 teaspoon of an extract of your choice.  My favorite is almond, but I think mint or coconut would also be delicious.  Taste test before swirling and dipping!
    • The less food coloring the better.  The more white glaze you have swirled in, also the better.  Food coloring has a pretty pungent flavor.  Use gel colorings for the most vibrant color, and dip a clean toothpick into the well of each and then into glaze.  Repeatedly if needed.  This allows you more control than just squirting the coloring directly into the bowl.
    • Food coloring stains everything!  Any porous surface it comes into contact with — wood, plastic, skin.  I always lay out a sheet of wax paper to protect the surface I’m working on from becoming permanently stained.

    Galaxy Cookies -- these cookies are BEAUTIFUL and way easier to make than you'd think!!

    I used dark chocolate cocoa powder to color these cookies nice and dark (you know, like the night sky…) without any additional food coloring.  They don’t have a very strong chocolate taste to them, though, and you can easily substitute regular cocoa powder or use this (non-chocolate) cutout cookie recipe to use as your base instead.

    Enjoy!

    Star shaped galaxy cookies stacked on a silver tray

    Galaxy Cookies

    Sparkly Galaxy Cookies made with a simple sugar glaze and chocolate cutout cookies. You will need: 1 star-shaped cookie cutter Vibrant pink, purple, and blue gel food coloring Optional (affiliate links): Disco dust Star shaped sprinkles
    4.95 from 18 votes
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    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 36 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 1 hour hour 10 minutes minutes
    Servings: 60 cookies
    Calories: 78kcal
    Author: Sam Merritt

    Ingredients

    Cutout Cookies

    • 1 cup (226 g) unsalted butter softened
    • ⅔ cup (135 g) granulated sugar
    • 1 tsp vanilla
    • 1 large egg yolk lightly beaten
    • 2 cups (270 g) all-purpose flour
    • ⅓ cup (35 g) dark cocoa powder
    • ½ tsp salt

    Galaxy Glaze

    • 3 cups (375 g) powdered sugar sifted
    • 3-4 Tbsp milk
    • 3 Tbsp light corn syrup
    • ½ tsp vanilla
    • ¼ tsp almond extract or your preferred flavoring
    • gel food coloring pink, blue, and purple

    Instructions

    Cookies

    • In stand mixer fitted with paddle attachment, cream butter.
      1 cup (226 g) unsalted butter
    • Add granulated sugar and beat until light and fluffy.
      ⅔ cup (135 g) granulated sugar
    • Add vanilla and stir well.
      1 tsp vanilla
    • Stir in lightly beaten egg yolk. Scrape down sides of bowl as needed to evenly incorporate all ingredients.
      1 large egg yolk
    • In separate bowl, combine flour, cocoa powder and salt.
      2 cups (270 g) all-purpose flour, ⅓ cup (35 g) dark cocoa powder, ½ tsp salt
    • With mixer on medium-low speed, gradually add flour until well-incorporated (you will definitely need to scrape down the sides and the bottom of the bowl several times for this, as the mixture is fairly dry and crumbs tend to settle at the bottom of the bowl).
    • Transfer dough to clean surface and use your hands to form it into a cohesive ball.
    • Flatten into a disk (about 1" thick), cover with clear wrap, and chill for 30 minutes.
    • Preheat oven to 350F and line cookie sheet with parchment paper.
    • Once dough has chilled, transfer it to a clean, lightly floured surface and use a lightly floured rolling pin to roll out to about ¼" thickness.
    • Lightly flour your star cookie cutters and cut out your shapes, transferring them to ungreased cookie sheet.
    • Once you have cut out all of the shapes that you can, be sure to re-combine the scraps and roll out and cut out again to get the maximum number of cookies from your dough.
    • Bake on 350F for 10-12 minutes (longer if you are using larger cookie cutters) and allow cookies to cool completely before dipping

    Glaze

    • In a large bowl, combine sifted powdered sugar, 3 Tbsp milk, and light corn syrup. Whisk until smooth. If mixture is too dry, add additional milk, one teaspoon at a time until mixture can be stirred.
      3 cups (375 g) powdered sugar, 3-4 Tbsp milk, 3 Tbsp light corn syrup
    • Stir in extracts (be sure to taste test to ensure you are happy with the flavor!)
      ½ tsp vanilla, ¼ tsp almond extract
    • Glaze should be thick, to test that it is the right consistency drop a few droplets on top of a test cookie. If the glaze remains stiff, it needs to be thinned. If it runs off the cookie, it is too thin and needs more powdered sugar. If it settles down smoothly, it is just right.
    • Divide glaze into four small bowls.
    • Working with one bowl at a time, use a toothpick (a different toothpick for each color) and dip it into the food coloring bottle and then into the glaze. You want a small pool of food coloring about the size of a mini chocolate chip or two.
      gel food coloring
    • Drag a toothpick through the food coloring and glaze until it is prettily swirled (like a galaxy).
    • Holding your cookie at the base, dip the surface of each cookie into the glaze (take a look at your first cookie -- are you satisfied with the pattern? Adjust whorls with additional food coloring as needed).
    • Optional: Before glaze can harden, immediately after dipping sprinkle cookies with disco dust and silver stars. These make them look extra pretty but are not required for stunning cookies.
    • Once the first bowl runs out or the colors become too muddled together from dipping, move onto your next bowl of food coloring (you will probably need to stir as the surface may have begun to harden).
    • Repeat steps 5-7 until all cookies have been dipped. Allow them to harden at least 30 minutes (may take longer) for glaze to set. Enjoy!
    • Keep uneaten cookies in an airtight container at room temperature.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1cookie | Calories: 78kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 8mg | Sodium: 21mg | Potassium: 6mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 96IU | Calcium: 2mg | Iron: 1mg

    Nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered an estimate only. Actual nutritional content will vary based upon brands used, measuring methods, cooking method, portion sizes, and more.

    Tried this recipe? Show me on Instagram!Mention @SugarSpun_Sam or tag #sugarspunrun!

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    This post may contain affiliate links, which means that if you purchase anything through these links I will get a small commission at no extra cost to you.  Please view the disclosure policy for more information.

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    Galaxy Cookies

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Alicia

      August 18, 2019 at 5:08 am

      Hi Sam, can the glaze harden in the fridge? Because i have a cooking exam about cookies and i want to use this glaze but theree is no time to make the glaze on the exam day. I want to make it in the morning or the previous night. But im wondering if i put the bowl of glaze in the fridge, will it harden?

      Reply
      • Sam

        August 18, 2019 at 10:12 am

        Hi Alicia! Unfortunately it probably will. ๐Ÿ™ Would you have time to make the glaze while the cookies bake? It should only take a few seconds to whip it together. Good luck! ๐Ÿ™‚

        Reply
    2. Alice

      July 22, 2019 at 10:53 pm

      5 stars
      I donโ€™t know what you mean about the chocolate flavor not being strong. Those were incredible, and Iโ€™m a major chocoholic and chocolate snob! It was like a brownie shortbread. My only complaint is that is was tricky glazing something a little crumbly.

      Reply
      • Sam

        July 25, 2019 at 12:28 pm

        I am so glad you enjoyed the cookies so much, Alice! ๐Ÿ™‚

        Reply
    3. Pat

      July 16, 2019 at 9:20 am

      very excited about making these
      Since food coloring stains so much, should we use gloves when dipping cookies? or tongs?
      I want to let kids dip the cookies
      thanks

      Reply
      • Sam

        July 16, 2019 at 2:48 pm

        Hi Pat! I don’t use gloves when dipping and haven’t really had any issues, but you can certainly use gloves if you’d like. You will want to do it over wax paper so your counter top doesn’t get covered in food coloring though. ๐Ÿ™‚

        Reply
    4. Tina

      May 24, 2019 at 12:26 am

      When you did the cookie do you twist it or just dip?

      Reply
      • Sam

        May 24, 2019 at 10:07 am

        Hi Tina! I dip it in and wiggle it a bit to make sure it gets a nice coating and then just lift the cookie out of the glaze. You may need to twist as you lift and flip to prevent icing from falling all over the place. I hope this helps. ๐Ÿ™‚

        Reply
    5. LYNN D. ROSSER

      January 31, 2019 at 6:38 pm

      Could you pipe words on the surface after they dry?

      Reply
      • Sam

        January 31, 2019 at 10:46 pm

        Sure I don’t see why not ๐Ÿ™‚

        Reply
    6. Joanie

      September 13, 2018 at 1:09 pm

      What makes the frosting g get hard though ?

      Reply
      • Sam

        September 13, 2018 at 6:32 pm

        Hi Joanie! The sugar and allowing it to set and dry at room temperature allow the icing to get hard.

        Reply
    7. Joni

      March 22, 2018 at 7:31 pm

      1 batch of cookie dough came out too crumbly the 2 no batch came out like fudge. What did I do wrong???

      Reply
      • Sam

        March 22, 2018 at 9:33 pm

        Hi Joni, I’m not really sure why they would come out so differently, that’s really strange! Could something have been mis-measured? What did you do differently with each batch?

        Reply
    8. Laura

      February 21, 2018 at 3:20 am

      Hi Sam does this glaze really harden? Looking to make these as wedding favors for under the star theme but will need to wrap or put in cellophane so just wonderimg if the glaze hardens to where it won’t make a mess?

      Reply
      • Sam

        February 26, 2018 at 10:33 pm

        Yes! it hardens, but does take several hours (ideally let them dry overnight).

        Reply
    9. Shelly Wood

      February 15, 2018 at 9:23 pm

      5 stars
      I made heart shaped cookies for Valentine’s Day, and used coconut extract instead of the almond. They were delicious and so unique!

      Reply
    10. Jen

      January 13, 2018 at 8:45 pm

      These are beautiful! I was thinking of using your glaze to top some orange zest and cardamom sugar cookies – do you think I could use orange juice in place of the milk in the glaze? I would love to make the glaze orange flavored and I really dislike citrus extracts. Thanks!

      Reply
      • Sam

        January 15, 2018 at 9:28 pm

        Ooh, I’m not sure, to be honest… Hmm, I worry that if you use orange juice instead of milk the glaze will be very thin, though you could potentially add more powdered sugar to combat that. Since I haven’t tried it myself it’s hard to be certain but I think it’s worth trying out, and if you do I’d love to know how it turns out for you!

        Reply
    11. Jeannie

      December 09, 2017 at 12:48 pm

      Made these for my cookie exchange today; turned out perfect! Thank you for sharing your tips, tricks and recipe. They are simply beautiful!

      Reply
    12. Gabriella

      November 24, 2017 at 3:57 pm

      5 stars
      I made your recepie for my son school event (space themed). The recepie is great and the cookies are beautiful. It was very easy and the galzing part was just so much fun.
      Thank you for the recepie.

      Reply
      • Sam

        November 25, 2017 at 10:08 am

        I’m so glad that you enjoyed it, Gabriella! Thank you for coming back and letting me know how it turned out for you! ๐Ÿ™‚

        Reply
    13. Michelle

      September 24, 2017 at 1:18 am

      These look great. I’m just wondering how long the cookies last? I’m looking for something I can make a couple of days in advance. Thanks

      Reply
      • Sam

        September 27, 2017 at 8:42 pm

        These should keep about two weeks, store in an airtight container. I hope you love them!

        Reply
    14. Barbara R

      June 11, 2017 at 3:24 pm

      5 stars
      Can you use this icing with cupcakes? I want a shiny hard thin frosting for cupcakes.
      Thanks for the recipe.

      Reply
      • Sam

        June 11, 2017 at 3:44 pm

        I haven’t tried it that way but think it could work so long as the top of the cupcake is firm enough, if it’s a very soft delicate cupcake the top might come off in the icing so I would just watch out for that! I hope that helps!

        Reply
    15. shirley

      May 18, 2017 at 12:13 pm

      Are the stars edible? or just some thing you added?

      Reply
      • Sam

        May 18, 2017 at 12:16 pm

        They are! I got them from my local cake shop but there is an affiliate link for them on Amazon beneath the post (the gold ones are cheaper on Amazon if you can find them, they’re expensive!).

        Reply
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