Christmas Stars

By norsegal8

Every Scandinavian cook has a fovaorite recipe for this classic Christmas pastry. I've provided directions for a quick cheese puff pastry, but feel free to substitute a 16-ounce package of the store-bought frozen variety.

Ingredients

• PRUNE FILLING
• 1 (12-ounce) package pitted prunes
• 2 cups water
• 1/4 cup sugar
• PUFF PASTRY
• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup cold butter
• 1 cup creamed small-curd cottage cheese
• 1 to 2 tablespoons ice water, if necessary

Details

Servings 16

Preparation

Step 1

To prepare the filling, place the prunes in a saucepan. Add the water and sugar and simmer for 20 minutes, or until the prunes are tender. Cool and puree.

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees.

To prepare the pastry, measure the flour into a food processor fitted with the steel blade. Slice the butter into the flour. Process, using on/off pulses, until the butter is cut into pea-sized pieces. Add the cottage cheese and process until the pastry comes together in a ball (add 1 to 2 tablespoons water if necessary).

Roll the pastry out to make a 12 by 12-inch square. Cut the pastry into 3-inch squares, and place a level teaspoon of the prune mixture into the center of each one. Cut a 1 1/2-inch slit from each corner towards the center. Fold alternate points into the center and press together. Let rest on an ungreased baking sheet for 15 minutes. Brush with beaten egg.

Bake for 10 minutes or until high, flaky and golden.