International Holiday Cookies: Finland

Explorica loves the holidays. And we’re very happy to share them with you, with the help of some delicious holiday cookie recipes from around the world. Here’s a tasty puff pastry recipe—hailing all the way from Finland—that you and your family will love.

Finland | Traditional Finnish star-shaped puff pastry with prune, apple or raspberry jam.

Ingredients
2 1/4 cups flour
1/2 tsp. + pinch salt
6 oz. cream cheese, room temp.
1 tbsp. grated lemon zest
3/4 cup fruit preserves
1 stick unsalted butter, room temp.
1 cup sugar
2 large eggs

Instructions
1.  Whisk together flour, baking powder, and 1/2 tsp. salt in  medium bowl. In an electric mixer bowl fitted with paddle attachment, cream together butter and cream cheese on medium speed until well combined. Add sugar and lemon zest and continue to beat until fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add 1 egg and beat until combined. Beat in flour mixture on low speed until combined. Divide dough into two squares, wrap in plastic, and refrigerate until firm, 1 to 2 hours.
2.  Preheat oven to 325°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
3.  Remove one-half of dough from refrigerator. On a lightly floured sheet of parchment, roll out dough into a square about 1/8 inch thick. Cut out squares using a 3 1/2-inch square cutter, then carefully transfer to prepared baking sheets, spaced about 1 1/2 inches apart.
4.  Place 1 tsp. preserve in square center. Using a small paring knife, cut 1 1/4-inch slits diagonally from each corner toward the filling. Fold every other tip over to cover filling, forming a pinwheel. Press lightly to seal. If dough becomes soft, refrigerate until firm.
5.  Lightly beat remaining egg with remaining pinch of salt. Using a pastry brush, lightly brush tops of cookies with egg wash. Bake until edges are golden and cookies are slightly puffed, 15 to 20 minutes. Let cool on sheets 5 minutes, then transfer cookies to a wire rack to cool completely. Repeat with remaining dough.

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