Star-shaped biscuits

These edible tree decorations are guaranteed to charm your guests at Christmas. They'd also be a good way of keeping the children amused in the school holidays as they can decorate them with icing, sugar strands and silver balls.

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Method

Whiz the flour, sugar and butter in a processor until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs.

Add the egg and a teaspoon of water and whiz again until the mixture forms a ball. On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough to a thickness of a £1 coin and use the star cutter to punch out the biscuits.

With the skewer, make a hole in each one to thread the wire through later. Transfer the biscuits to the baking sheets and bake them for 10-15 minutes, one sheet on the top shelf of the oven and the other on the middle shelf, swapping them halfway through.

Cool on a wire rack. When the biscuits are cold, roll out the icing on a surface lightly dusted with icing sugar to about 1/8 inch (3 mm). Cut out 12 stars. Lightly brush one side of each biscuit with cooled, boiled water and press an icing star on to each. Make a hole through the icing above the first hole.

Decorate by simply pressing silver balls into the icing. Thread wire through the holes and hang the biscuits on the tree.