Just got done stamping out some really fine Mama Cookies, but now you're being smothered with so many gifts you wish you had enrolled in BAP%? Well, this guide will teach you everything we currently know about the craft of the Stars (Or more specifically, how Bonuses, Stars and Gifts work in Cooking Mama 2: Dinner With Friends).

-=- So, what are bonuses? -=- Bonuses are special points you may earn upon completing a step, under various conditions. Earning a Bonus and completing the current recipe will turn all your Bonuses into Stars. When you accumulate a total of 5 stars, you will get a gift. When you do get a gift, you will be presented with 3 gift boxes, choose one and you'll get a cosmetic prize. This is not skippable, and these gifts are a massive pain during speed runs, which is why most long to find niche little ways to avoid as many stars as possible.

-=- What are the specifics behind earning Bonuses? -=- Bonuses can be earned in the following ways:

• Completing a step in a good amount of time relating to the clock on the upper screen (The exact point in which a Bonus is lost differs from step to step).
• Having the last two ingredients of 'Chili Dog: Kitchen catch!' land in the centre of the bun. (This list is still WIP, as testing is ongoing)

-=- How do we avoid Bonuses? -=- The clock on the upper screen of steps will stutter, then move faster, along with quickening its ticking intervals when you lose the Bonus on a step. Finding the most optimal places to stall and avoid the bonus is the craft of the Stars. Stars will also persist between recipes (None of this matters in BAP%, as that run is a single recipe.). Stars and Gifts on the last recipe of a run are also null and void, as the run ends before they get to make their move.

So in short, find good places to avoid bonuses.