I love these Christmas stars/pastries aka “Joulutortuu” - I’ve grown up eating them through my Finnish roots. My Granny always has these fresh on the table during the festive season. They’re a wonderful traditional, easy recipe and treat that look so beautiful. This isn’t the original pastry recipe however, puff works just as well and traditionally only prunes are used but pear, cinnamon and vanilla round it off so well. 

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P.S I also use this no-sugar prune and pear jam as a constipation reliever for my toddler, served stirred into porridge or yoghurt.

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Makes 6 large stars

✨Ingredients: 

For the Prune and pear Jam (Make a day ahead, if possible)

- 300g prunes 

- 2 ripe pears 

- 1 tsp cinnamon

- 1 tsp vanilla extract

- 200ml water

For the Stars

- 1 ready-rolled puff pastry

- Prune and pear jam / apricot/ any other jam of your choice. 

- Little Milk to brush

- 2 tbsp icing sugar 

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✨Method

🌟Make the jam by adding all ingredients into a pan, cover and cook gently for 10-15 until fruit is nice and soft. Uncover, ensure it’s not sticking to the pan (add little water if required). Stir and mash until resembles a jam-like texture. Leave to cool completely, before using in pastries or store in the fridge overnight. 

🌟For the pastries - preheat oven to 180C. Unroll pastry and cut into 6 equal squares. Leaving space in the centre, cut towards each corner to create flaps. Place jam in the centre and begin to fold one side of each of the flaps as shown above to resemble stars. Brush over each Christmas star with little milk and bake for for 15-18mins until puffy and golden. Leave to cool, sieve over some icing sugar and enjoy.

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⏰ 30mins

👶🏼7m+ (serve appropriately)

❄️ Prune and Pear Jam will keep for 3-4 days in an airtight container, freeze for upto 3 months.