These Santa Star Cookies are festive, buttery Christmas cut-out cookies decorated to look like adorable little Santas. Made with a soft, tender dough flavored lightly with orange and vanilla, these cookies bake beautifully and are perfect for decorating with kids, gifting to friends, or adding sparkle to your holiday cookie trays. They’re fun, charming, and taste just as good as they look.

Why You’ll Love These Santa Star Cookies

• They’re the ultimate holiday showstopper — cute, colorful, and guaranteed to make everyone smile the moment they hit the table.
• Kid-approved and adult-loved — decorating these is as fun as eating them, making them perfect for family baking days or cozy holiday traditions.
• Soft, buttery, and perfectly sweet — the orange-vanilla dough gives each bite a warm festive flavor that tastes like Christmas.
• They hold their shape beautifully — no spreading, no melting faces — just perfect Santas every time.
• Great for gifting — pack them in a holiday tin or cookie box, and you instantly have a thoughtful homemade present.
• Scroll-stopping visuals — bright red icing, cute faces, and star shapes make them stunning on Pinterest, Instagram, and holiday dessert tables.

PREP: 1 hour 5 minutes + chilling

BAKE: 10 minutes per batch + standing

MAKES: About 6 dozen

Jump to Recipe

Ingredients

Cookie Dough

• 1½ cups butter, softened
• ½ cup shortening
• 1 cup sugar
• ½ cup packed brown sugar
• 2 large eggs, room temperature
• ¼ cup thawed orange juice concentrate
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 5 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp salt

Royal Icing

• 2 cups confectioners’ sugar
• 2 Tbsp plus 2 tsp water
• 4½ tsp meringue powder
• ¼ tsp cream of tartar
• Red and black paste food coloring
• Decorating sprinkles, optional

How to Make Santa Star Cookies

1. Make the Cookie Dough

1. Cream butter, shortening, sugar, and brown sugar until light and fluffy.
2. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.
3. Mix in the orange juice concentrate and vanilla.
4. In a separate bowl, combine flour, baking soda, and salt.
5. Gradually add dry ingredients to the wet mixture.
6. Cover and refrigerate the dough for about 2 hours, until firm enough to roll.

2. Cut & Bake

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Roll dough on a lightly floured surface to ¼-inch thickness.
3. Cut using a floured star-shaped cookie cutter.
4. Place cookies 1 inch apart on ungreased baking sheets.
5. Bake 7–8 minutes, or until edges are set.
6. Transfer to wire racks to cool completely.

3. Make the Royal Icing

1. Combine confectioners’ sugar, water, meringue powder, and cream of tartar.
2. Beat on low just to combine.
3. Increase to high speed and whip for 4–5 minutes, until stiff peaks form.
4. Tint 9 Tbsp red and 2 Tbsp black; leave the rest white.
5. Keep unused icing covered with a damp towel to prevent drying.

4. Decorate

1. Use a #3 tip with red icing to pipe Santa hats and suits.
2. Use a #1 tip with black icing for eyes, mittens, belts, and boots.
3. Use a #2 tip with white icing for trim, beards, and mustaches.
4. Add sprinkles for belt buckles or mouth, if desired.

Recipe Notes

• For sharper cookie edges, chill cut-out shapes for 10 minutes before baking.
• Use paste gel food coloring for vibrant, non-watery icing.
• If icing becomes too stiff, whip again on high for 10–15 seconds.
• Work in batches — royal icing dries quickly.
• Use parchment or silicone mats if preferred (even though recipe says ungreased sheets).

Nutrition & Benefits (per cookie)

• 117 calories
• 5g fat (3g saturated)
• 15mg cholesterol
• 85mg sodium
• 16g carbohydrates
• 9g sugars
• 1g protein

Benefits

• Fun and creative holiday baking activity
• Great for gifting and sharing
• Kid-friendly decorating
• Makes a large batch for parties and dessert tables

Storage & Tips

Storage

• Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for 5–7 days.
• Keep layers separated with parchment to protect decorations.

Freezing

• Freeze undecorated cookies for up to 3 months.
• Thaw completely before icing.
• Decorated cookies can also be frozen — freeze flat, then stack once solid.

Tips

• Don’t skip chilling — it prevents spreading.
• If dough cracks when rolling, let it sit at room temp for 5–10 minutes.
• To avoid bubbles in icing, cover and let it rest 5 minutes before piping.

Serve It With

These cookies pair beautifully with:

• Hot chocolate or peppermint mocha
• Eggnog or warm apple cider
• A Christmas cookie platter
• A holiday brunch or dessert buffet

FAQ

Can I make the dough ahead of time?

Yes! Refrigerate up to 48 hours or freeze for 2 months.

Why is my dough too sticky to roll?

It needs more chilling time — place it back in the fridge for 20–30 minutes.

Can I use butter instead of shortening?

Yes, but cookies may spread a little more and taste slightly richer.

Can I use store-bought icing?

Yes, but royal icing gives the best structure for fine Santa details.

Can kids help decorate these?

Absolutely — this is a perfect family baking project!

Enjoy

Have fun decorating each Santa in your own creative way! These cookies bring holiday cheer to every table — festive, delicious, and guaranteed to make everyone smile. Enjoy every sweet, buttery bite!