White-Choc Dipped Shortbread Stars Recipe (Perfect for Giving this Christmas)
Now that the end of the school year is nearly upon us (scary I know!) it’s time to start thinking about teacher’s gifts. These Shortbread Stars make a great homemade teacher’s gift. We’ve been giving them as Christmas gifts for the past few years now and best of all the kids can get involved with making them too.
My boys love helping to make this recipe. It should be no surprise that their favourite jobs are cutting out the stars and decorating them! They also love the fact that they are giving their teachers a gift that they have helped to create. I’m pretty sure their teachers think it’s pretty special too.
This recipe makes approximately 30 stars (when using a 6c m wide cutter), which should give you a few of gifts out of each batch. Once the Shortbread Stars have set, simply pop them into a cute Christmas tin or box (which you can find at your local discount store or supermarket), and you’ve got a gorgeous gift for your child’s well-deserving teacher.
White Choc-Dipped Shortbread Stars Recipe
Shortbread Stars for Christmas Teacher's Gift
Melt-in-your-mouth white chocolate star biscuits the kids can make = perfect teacher's gifts.
By Lauren Matheson
Published:
Prep Time:
Cook time:
Servings:
Ingredients:
softened butter: 250 grams
plain flour: 375 grams
caster sugar: 125 grams
rice flour: 25 grams
vanilla extract: 1 teaspoon
white chocolate: 150 grams
sprinkles to decorate - optional
Directions:
Step 1: Preheat the oven to 190°C fan-forced and line two baking trays with baking paper.
Step 2: Place the softened butter, caster sugar and rice flour into the bowl of an electric mixer (or use a handheld mixer) and mix on a high speed for approximately 8 - 10 minutes or until the ingredients are almost white. Add the vanilla extract and mix until combined.
Step 3: Reduce the speed of the mixer to low and gradually add the plain flour until a soft paste forms.
Step 4: Transfer the shortbread mixture to your bench which has been dusted with flour and gently bring the mixture together to form a smooth ball. Slice the ball in half and wrap one piece in cling wrap and place in the fridge until you need it.
Step 5: Using a rolling pin, roll the other ball until it is approximately 1 cm thick and use a star shaped cutter to make shapes.
Step 6: Carefully transfer the shortbread stars to the baking trays. Continue cutting out the shortbread stars (re-roll offcuts) until all of the mixture has been used. Take your second ball of dough from the fridge and return to Step 5.
Step 7: Once all of the dough has been cut into shapes, place your baking trays into the oven and bake for approximately 10 minutes or until the edges of the shortbread stars turn golden (see Notes below).
Step 8: Remove the trays from the oven and allow to cool completely.
Step 9: When the shortbread stars have cooled, break the white chocolate into pieces and place into a microwave safe bowl. Cook the white chocolate for 30 second spurts on high until it has just melted.
Step 10: Carefully dip the shortbread stars into the white chocolate and place onto a wire cooling rack to allow the chocolate to dry. While the chocolate is still wet, decorate with sprinkles or other decorations if desired.
Notes: Although you may have some eager helpers when it comes time to make these Shortbread Stars, I do recommend that you try to not handle the shortbread mixture too much. It can become soft and difficult to work with if it heats up. It's also a good idea to keep a close eye on these while they are in the oven. Just an extra minute or two too long can result in over cooking them, so don't let the kids distract you!
