Christmas Star Biscuits

Makes about five stacks of six biscuits

For the vanilla biscuits:
80g plain flour
30g golden caster sugar
60g butter, unsalted
½ egg yolk
¼ tsp good-quality vanilla extract

For the chocolate biscuits:
70g plain flour
10g cocoa powder
30g golden caster sugar
60g butter, unsalted
½ egg yolk

To finish:
Star cookie cutters in three sizes
A little melted chocolate
Icing sugar

To make the vanilla biscuits:
Sieve the flour into a mixing bowl, add the sugar and diced butter. Rub in until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs. Make a well in the middle, add the egg yolk and vanilla. Beat together until the mixture forms a ball. Wrap in cling-film and leave in the fridge for half an hour.

To make the chocolate biscuits:
Sieve the flour and cocoa together in a bowl, then add the sugar and diced butter. Rub in until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs. Make a well in the middle, add the egg yolk. Beat together until the mixture forms a ball. Wrap in cling-film and leave in the fridge for half an hour.

Heat the oven to 190 degrees C/Gas Mark 5. Brush two baking trays with a thin layer of vegetable oil.
Roll out the doughs separately, and cut out equal numbers of stars in each size. Place on the baking trays and cook for about 10 minutes, until the vanilla biscuits are lightly browned. Loosen the biscuits at once, then leave to cool.

To make the stacks:
Melt a little chocolate in a pan to use as ‘glue’. Dab a little in the centre the biggest vanilla biscuit, stick a big chocolate one on top so the points of the star alternate, then continue with smaller stars until you have a stack. Dust with icing sugar and leave to set.
Place each stack on a piece of card covered with silver foil, wrap in a sheet of cellophane and tie with ribbon.