Approximately 30

Christmas stars recipe

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Takes a satisfying hour of play, plus 1 hour chilling time.

125g icing sugar, sifted
1/2 tsp vanilla essence
1 medium egg yolk
250g salted butter
375g plain flour
1 egg, beaten
1 quantity royal icing (see recipe for Magic cakes)

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1. Put the icing sugar, vanilla, egg yolk and butter in a bowl and mix quickly together with your fingers or a wooden spoon. Add the flour and mix to a firm dough, working quickly. Shape the dough into a flat slab, wrap in cling film and chill for 1 hour.
2. Preheat oven to 180°C/fan160°C/gas 4. Briefly knead the chilled dough to soften. Roll out on a floured surface to 4mm thick. Use different star-shaped cutters to stamp out the stars. (You can also cut out star shapes using stiff card as a template, then cut around these with a sharp knife.) Lay the stars well apart on baking sheets lined with baking parchment. Brush with beaten egg and bake for 12-15 minutes until just golden. Leave on a wire rack to cool.
3. Make up the royal icing, then pipe, swirl, dot and outline different-size patterns on the stars. Press silver balls into the icing while still soft, then leave to dry for 1 hour.

Chef's tip

These are great fun to make. You can mark a hole in them before baking, then thread ribbon through to hang on the Christmas tree, or wrap in cellophane and give as gifts.

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