• It’s the most wonderful time of the year. If you’re entertaining this festive season, make these brie and cranberry pastry stars part of your feast. It’s the perfect canape to serve as guests arrive, or simply bake a few and serve as starters.

    Brie and cranberry pastry stars

    Serves: 6 as a canape
    Total Time: 1 hr 15 mins

    Ingredients

    • 1 x 400g roll frozen puff pastry, defrosted
    • 1 egg, lightly whisked
    • 125g Brie cheese, cubed
    • 150g store-bought cranberry sauce
    • handful mint leaves, to garnish

    Instructions

    1

    On a clean work surface dusted with flour, lightly roll out the dough in one direction only.

    2

    Preheat the oven to 200˚C. Grease and line 2 baking trays. Using small star cookie cutters (we used 5cm, 6,5cm and 8cm sizes), cut out pastry shapes. Place on large freezerproof platters and chill in the freezer for about 15 minutes.

    3

    Remove from freezer and transfer to the lined baking trays. Brush with the whisked egg and bake until golden, about 15 minutes. Remove from oven. Turn the oven setting to grill.

    4

    Place a cube of Brie on each star. Return to the oven, watching carefully, until the cheese melts, about 3 minutes. Remove from oven. Transfer to serving platters, spoon a little cranberry sauce over each pastry, garnish with mint leaves and serve immediately.

    ALSO SEE: Spiced eggnog marshmallows

    Spiced eggnog marshmallows

    Recipe and styling by Nomvuselelo Mncube

    Photograph by Dylan Swart

    Imka Webb
    Author

    Imka Webb is a freelance digital marketing expert and the digital editor of Food & Home Entertaining magazine.  www.imkawebb.com