During the festive season, it’s lovely to bring a touch of German tradition to your home baking. These Mürbeteigsterne, or Shortcrust Stars, are a delightful Christmas treat that combines the buttery richness of shortcrust pastry with the warmth of holiday spices. These deliciously crisp and aromatic cookies are perfect for sharing with loved ones or as a thoughtful homemade gift. Let’s dive into the recipe and bring a taste of Germany to your holiday celebrations with these Mürbeteigsterne.
**Ingredients:**
– 2 cups all-purpose flour
– 1/2 cup powdered sugar
– 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
– 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
– 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
– Pinch of salt
– 1 cup unsalted butter, cold and cut into small cubes
– 1 egg yolk
– 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
– 1/2 cup apricot jam
– Powdered sugar, for dusting
**Instructions:**
1. In a large mixing bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, powdered sugar, ground cinnamon, ground cloves, ground nutmeg, and a pinch of salt.
2. Add the cold, cubed unsalted butter to the dry ingredients. Using your fingertips or a pastry cutter, work the butter into the flour mixture until it resembles coarse crumbs.
3. In a small bowl, whisk together the egg yolk and vanilla extract. Drizzle this mixture over the butter-flour mixture.
4. Gently knead the dough with your hands until it comes together into a smooth ball. Be careful not to overwork the dough.
5. Flatten the dough into a disk, wrap it in plastic wrap, and chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes to firm up.
6. Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
7. On a lightly floured surface, roll out the chilled dough to about 1/4 inch thickness. Use star-shaped cookie cutters to cut out cookies and transfer them to the prepared baking sheet.
8. Use a smaller star-shaped cutter to cut out the center of half of the cookies. These will be the top cookies in your sandwich cookie later.
9. Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden.
10. Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
11. Once the cookies are completely cooled, spread a thin layer of apricot jam on the whole star-shaped cookies. Place the cut-out star cookies on top, creating a jam-filled sandwich.
12. Dust the tops of the cookies with powdered sugar for a snowy finish.
13. Serve your Mürbeteigsterne Shortcrust Stars on a festive platter or package them in pretty boxes for gifting.
Enjoy these delightful German Christmas cookies with a cup of hot cocoa or mulled wine, and let the warmth of the season fill your home with joy. Wishing you a cozy and delicious holiday season filled with love and sweet treats!
