How to Make Wookiee Cookies

Like most little boys, my sons have been obsessed with Star Wars for as long as I can remember. It feels like they’ve spent their whole lives imparting Yoda’s wisdom and debating which movie is officially the best of the bunch. They’ve watched the original trilogy, animated and newer versions, and eagerly anticipate the future films (I know this because they talk about it all. the. time!).

My sons are obviously not the only Star Wars fanatics out there, and luckily for little Jedis everywhere someone (actually, the Toronto Underground Cinema) organized the first celebration of Star Wars Day on May 4^th, an observation that caught on around the globe and is now a quasi-holiday for diehard fans.

May the 4th was selected because of a congratulatory message placed in The London Evening News in 1979 on the day Margaret Thatcher took office as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom that read ‘May the Fourth Be with You, Maggie. Congratulations.’ The saying was used again in a parliament debate in 1994 and slowly caught on with fans of the film. Since 2013, The Walt Disney Company has officially observed the holiday with several Star Wars related events and festivities being held at Disneyland and Walt Disney World.

A year or so ago, when the latest movie had released its trailer, I jumped online and bought two tickets two months in advance for the first screening of the film. The boys had no idea I had secured the tickets and I began plotting ways of presenting them with the surprise. Thanks to Pinterest, I was inspired with the perfect idea: I could make a batch of Wookiee cookies and give them to the kids along with the tickets.

While there isn’t a movie scheduled to come out this week, you can bet I’ll be baking a batch of these cookies for my kids. My oldest son had started to look at Universities, and I find myself happily doing all I can do to keep his feet firmly planted in childhood. Making character cookies count, I think.

Do you live with little Star Wars fanatics? Are they interested in celebrating Star Wars Day?

Recipe adapted from Dinner with Julie.

You’ll Need

For the cookies:
½ cup butter, at room temperature
½ cup sugar
½ cup molasses
1 large egg
1 tsp vanilla
3 cups all-purpose flour
2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp ground ginger
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
For the decoration:
¼ cup dark or milk chocolate chips
½ cup powdered sugar
¼ tsp vanilla
2-4 tsp milk

Prep and Cook

1

In a large bowl, beat the butter and sugars until pale and light add the molasses, egg and vanilla and beat until well-blended. (It may look curdled, but that’s OK.)
2

In another bowl, stir together the flour, spices, baking soda and salt. Add to the molasses mixture and stir until the dough comes together. Shape into a disc, wrap in plastic or parchment and refrigerate for half an hour, or overnight.
3

When you’re ready to bake, preheat the oven to 350°F. On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough out about ¼-inch thick. Cut into shapes with a gingerbread man cookie cutter, transfer to a parchment-lined baking sheet and press all over with the back of a fork to imprint fur all over the wookiee.
4

Bake for 15 minutes, or until pale golden and set. Remove from oven and cool completely.
5

Meanwhile, melt chocolate in the microwave in 20 second increments, stirring each time until the chocolate is just melted. Transfer to a small ziptop baggie and draw on the eyes, nose, and bandolier. You can wait for the chocolate to set, or chill the cookies for a couple minutes to speed the process along.
6

In a bowl, mix the powdered sugar and vanilla together, and then add the milk a teaspoon at a time until you have an icing consistency. Transfer to a second ziptop baggie to draw a line for the mouth, and the decorations on the bandolier.