For the Dotty Stars:
- Using a #3 tip, outline the star in white royal icing.
- Thin red and blue icing to the consistency of syrup and let sit covered with a damp dishtowel for several minutes. Run a rubber spatula through the icing to pop any air bubbles that have formed on top. (AmeriColor Super Red, Spectrum Royal Blue)
- Transfer thinned icing into squeeze bottles.
- Working with about 6 cookies at a time, fill in the cookie in the blue icing using a toothpick to coax into the corners.
- Once 6 or so are filled in blue, dot the red icing on top.
- Let dry 1 hour.
- Go over the border piping in white again, using the #3 tip.
- Let dry overnight.
- Using either warmed corn syrup or meringue powder mixed with water, "paint" over the raised border using a small paintbrush.
- Sprinkle with clear sparkling or sanding sugar.