Bake Up Some… Festive Fun

Christmas is such an exciting time for kids, so get them into the kitchen to make tasty treats for family and friends

Jammy star cookies

Makes 15-20

Prep 1 hr plus chilling

Cook 15-30 mins VEGETARIAN

175g cold unsalted butter, cut into cubes

250g plain flour, plus extra for dusting

100g golden icing sugar

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 egg yolk

FOR THE FILLING

50g unsalted butter, softened

160g icing sugar

120g seedless raspberry or strawberry jam

You will need

2 star-shaped cutters, around 6cm and 3cm

1 Blitz the butter, flour and a pinch of salt together in a food processor until the mix resembles breadcrumbs. Add the sugar and blitz again. Add the vanilla and egg yolk and pulse until balls of dough have formed. Tip the dough onto a surface and knead briefly to form a ball. Cut in half, pat into discs, wrap and chill for 30 mins. Line two baking sheets with baking parchment.

2 Remove the dough from the fridge 15 mins before you roll it out. Lightly flour a work surface and rolling pin. Unwrap one half of dough and roll out to the thickness of a 50p coin. Stamp out stars with the 6cm cutter and transfer to one of the baking sheets.

3 Unwrap and roll out the other piece of dough. Stamp out 15 more stars and transfer to the second baking sheet. Stamp holes from the middle of 15 of the biscuits using the 3cm cutter. Cover and chill for 15 mins. Heat the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Bake for 10-15 mins (the stars with a hole need less time), leave to cool for 5 mins, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.