Festive Christmas Star Biscuits with Orange and Vanilla

Christmas Star Biscuits Recipe: Sweet, Festive, and Delightfully Easy

The holiday season calls for sweet treats that not only warm your home with irresistible aromas but also bring joy to every gathering. These Christmas Star Biscuits, known for their delicate texture and delightful orange and vanilla flavor, are perfect for both baking enthusiasts and novices. Whether you’re making them as a festive snack, a gift, or to hang on the Christmas tree, they are sure to be a holiday hit!

Ingredients:

Directions:

1. Prepare the dough:
   Begin by preparing a large mixing bowl. Add the flour, baking powder, and the cold cubed butter. The butter should be chilled to ensure that it integrates perfectly into the flour, creating a crumbly texture that forms the base of your biscuit dough.

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2. Incorporate the eggs and sugar:
   Next, add the egg yolks and granulated sugar to the bowl. Be sure to break the yolks gently to combine them thoroughly with the other ingredients. The sugar will add sweetness and help in creating the crisp texture once the biscuits are baked. Stir everything together until it starts to come together into a dough.

3. Add the aromatics:
   To give these biscuits a festive flair, add the seeds of the vanilla pod and zest of the orange. The vanilla will give a warm, aromatic flavor, while the orange zest will add a refreshing citrus note that perfectly complements the rich buttery dough.

4. Knead the dough:
   Once everything is mixed, transfer the dough onto a lightly floured surface. Knead it gently with your hands to bring it together into a smooth, cohesive ball of dough. This will only take a few minutes, so avoid overworking the dough. Afterward, shape it into a flat disc.

5. Roll out the dough:
   With a rolling pin, roll the dough out on a floured surface until it reaches a thickness of about 3-4 mm. You want the dough thin enough to create crisp, delicate biscuits but thick enough to hold its shape when cut.

6. Cut out the star shapes:
   Using a star-shaped cookie cutter, cut out the dough into star shapes. To make these stars even more festive, you can use smaller star cutters to create tiny star holes in the center of the biscuits, which gives them an elegant, lacy appearance.

7. Prepare for baking:
   Place the star-shaped biscuits onto a baking tray lined with parchment paper. To give them a beautiful golden finish, brush the tops with egg white. Then, sprinkle a generous amount of brown sugar over the surface. The sugar will melt slightly during baking, forming a sweet, crunchy top that adds texture and flavor.

8. Re-roll the scraps:
   Gather any leftover dough scraps and gently knead them together. Roll out the dough again and repeat the process of cutting out star shapes. This ensures that no dough goes to waste, and you can make more biscuits to enjoy!

9. Bake the biscuits:
   Preheat your oven to 180°C (350°F) and bake the biscuits for around 15-20 minutes. The biscuits should be lightly golden at the edges and firm to the touch. Keep an eye on them as they bake to ensure they don’t overbrown.

10. Cool and enjoy:
    Once baked, remove the biscuits from the oven and let them cool on the baking tray for a few minutes. Then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely. If you’re feeling extra festive, these biscuits make for a wonderful decoration on the Christmas tree, or you can simply enjoy them with a warm cup of tea.

These Christmas Star Biscuits are the perfect combination of crisp, buttery goodness with a subtle hint of citrus and vanilla. They’re versatile enough for holiday gatherings, as a sweet gift, or just a delicious treat for yourself. Whether you’re hanging them on the tree or nibbling on them by the fireplace, they’ll bring a touch of joy to your holiday season. Happy baking!

Nutritional Information (Approx. per Biscuit):

These delightful biscuits are a treat that everyone can enjoy during the holiday season. Easy to make and wonderfully festive, these Christmas Star Biscuits will be the star of your holiday baking!