STAR PASTRY RECIPES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Roll out 1 puff pastry sheet and place on the prepared baking sheet.
• Spread chocolate-hazelnut spread evenly onto puff pastry with the back of a spoon. Roll out the second sheet of puff pastry and place on top.
• Place a glass or Mason jar face-down in the center of the puff pastry. Cut pastry into 4 equal strips with a sharp knife, stopping at the border of the glass. Cut through each quarter again, making 8 strips, and again, ending up with a total of 16 equal parts, while keeping the center intact. Twist 2 parts away from each other; pull outward and seal seams together. Repeat with the rest of the parts until pastry resembles a star.
• Brush top with beaten egg.
• Bake in the preheated oven until puffy and golden brown, 25 to 30 minutes. Cool slightly, about 5 minutes, before serving.

Steps:

• Dissolve yeast in warm water until foamy. In another bowl, combine milk, egg, butter, sugar and salt; add yeast mixture and 3 cups flour. Beat on medium speed until smooth, about 1 minute. Stir in enough remaining flour to form a soft dough., Turn onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, 6-8 minutes. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease top. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour., Punch down dough. Turn onto a lightly floured surface; divide into 4 portions. Roll 1 portion into a 12-in. circle. Place on a greased 14-in. pizza pan. Spread with one-third of the jam to within 1/2 in. of edge. Repeat twice, layering dough and jam, and ending with final portion of dough., Place a 2-1/2-in. round cutter on top of the dough in center of circle (do not press down). With a sharp knife, make 16 evenly spaced cuts from round cutter to edge of dough, forming a starburst. Remove cutter; grasp 2 adjacent strips and rotate twice outward. Pinch ends together. Repeat with remaining strips., Cover and let rise until almost doubled, about 30 minutes. Preheat oven to 375°. Bake until golden brown, 18-22 minutes. (Watch during final 5 minutes for any dripping.) Remove from oven; brush with melted butter, avoiding areas where jam is visible. Cool completely on a wire rack. Dust with confectioners' sugar.