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?