Makes approximately 28

These chic-looking biscuits won’t be out of place among the most elegant decorations. They are easy to make and, once the chocolate has cooled, suitable for little ones to help with.

185g butter

225g sugar

1½ tsp vanilla extract

340g plain flour

1 egg, plus 1 yolk

150g each milk, dark and white chocolate

Pot of silver confectionery balls

1 Preheat the oven to 180C/Gas 4. Place the butter, sugar and vanilla in a food processor and blend until well mixed. Add the flour, egg and egg yolk, then process again until smooth. Wrap in parchment paper and refrigerate for 30 minutes. Roll out on a flour-dusted surface to 5mm thickness and cut out in star shapes. Use an appropriate implement to make a hole in the middle of each star for the ribbon. Place the stars on a tray lined with parchment paper and bake for 10 minutes or until golden.

2 Put the chopped or broken-up chocolate in three separate bowls and place in a warm oven (100C/Gas ¼) for 8-10 minutes until melted.

3 When the biscuits have cooled on a wire rack, dip them into the molten chocolate. Place the biscuits on non-stick parchment paper and, while the chocolate is still soft, scatter liberally with silver balls.

4 Once the chocolate has set, thread some pretty ribbon through the holes and hang the stars on your Christmas tree, or, if giving as a present, store in an airtight container.

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