Red, White & Blue Star Cookie Towers

OK...these babies could not be easier, and the best part?  Four cookies in one.  Oh, yeah.


When cookie wizard Callye of The Sweet Adventures of Sugar Belle challenged a group of us to come up with a project using a simple star cutter, my mind went, well, two places.  ONE, to the set of graduated star cutters I had on hand, and TWO, to beautiful cookie "cakes," like these from Sweetopia.

Because of their height and the dash of disco dust, these cookie towers look like you spent many, many hours putting them together, when the truth is, they're super easy.  I like projects like that.

Let's get started.  You'll need:

• star-shaped cookies, in 3 sizes
• royal icing, tinted with AmeriColor Royal Blue (or Navy Blue...I mixed mine together), Super Red and Bright White
• couplers and tips (#2 or 3)
• disposable icing bags
• squeeze bottles 
• toothpicks
• meringue powder
• small paintbrush
• disco dust, red or rainbow (white)

Use a #2 or #3 tip to outline the cookies. Reserve some white piping consistency icing and store in the refrigerator until the next day. 

Thin the remaining icings with water, a bit at a time, stirring with a silicone spatula, until it is the consistency of a thick syrup.  You'll want to drop a "ribbon" of icing back into the bowl and have it disappear in a count of "one thousand one, one thousand two." Four is too thick, one is too thin.  Count of 2-3 is good.  Cover with a damp dishcloth and let sit for several minutes.

Stir gently with a silicone spatula to pop and large air bubbles that have formed.  Pour into squeeze bottles.

Fill in the outlines with the thinned icing. Use a toothpick to guide to edges and pop large air bubbles.

Let the cookies dry uncovered 6-8 hours, or overnight.

The next day, mix equal amounts meringue powder with water.  Use a small paintbrush to apply the mixture to the smallest cookies.  Sprinkle on coordinating disco dust.  Shake off the excess.

{I apply this dry.  I find it easier to work with a dry cookie than one with wet icing sliding all around.  Feel free to do what works best for you.}

Apply royal icing to the back of the medium-sized cookie.  Press this onto the top of the larger cookie and let set 30 minutes.

Meanwhile, apply a small amount of royal icing to the back of one small cookie.  Press on another cookie on the back and let the cookies set for 30 minutes.

Apply a bit of royal icing to the bottom tips of the small star sets.  Press onto the cookie towers.  Let the cookies dry 30 minutes.

{If you'd like, use a small DRY paintbrush to brush away stray disco dust.  WARNING: you'll never get it all and could drive yourself crazy trying.  Not that I'm talking from personal experience or anything.}


There you have it...cookie towers!  Easy, right?

Now.  Go you must (thought I'd throw in a little Yoda for no reason) to the other girls getting their STAR on today...

1. Strawberry Shortcake on a Stick, The Decorated Cookie
2. Patriotic Lace Cookies , My Little Bakery
3. Independence Day Parade Cookies, Jill FCS
4. Old Fashioned 4th of July, Vicki’s Sweet Treats
5. Light up the Fourth Cookies, The Partiologist
6. Declaration of Independence Cookie, Vanilla Bean Baker
7. Badge of Liberty Cookies, Lila Loa
8. Red, White & Blue Star Cookie Towers, Bake at 350 (you're here!)
9. 4th of July Firecracker Cookies, Klickitat Street
10. Star Cut-out Cookies, Glorious Treats
11. Cookie "Pledge", Lizy B Bakes
12. Star-Shaped Krispie Treats, Cookies and Cups
13. Easy Star Cupcake Toppers, Confessions of a Cookbook Queen
14. Rustic 4th of July Galletes, Haniela's
15. Patriotic Cookie Wreath, Sweetopia
16. Patriotic River Rafter, Ali-Bee's Bake Shop
17. Funny Fox Cookies, The Bearfoot Baker
18. Quilted Cookie Stars, Cookie Crazie
19. Gimme Your John Hancock Stars, Life's a Batch
20. Patriotic Cookie Stir Sticks, The Cookie Artisan
21. Patriotic Floral Stars, SweetSugarBelle