Festive Fig & Cheddar Stars

Serves: Make 12-16 stars

Time: 30 minutes =, plus cooling

Difficulty: Easy

Ingredients

100g Ivy’s Reserve Vintage Cheddar, grated

100g Ivy’s Reserve Somerset Red, grated

100ml Double Cream

1 Free-range Egg, medium, beaten

1 tsp Sumac

2 Fresh Figs, cut into small pieces

2 tbsp Runny Honey

Fresh Thyme Leaves (optional)

Flaky Sea Salt (optional)

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You will need

Baking sheet, lined with baking parchment

Star-shaped Cookie Cutter

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Instructions

Step 1 – Preheat the oven to 200C / 180C fan / gas 6. Linea baking sheet with baking parchment.

Step 2 – In a small bowl, mix the grated Vintage Cheddar, half the double cream, and 1 teaspoon of the beaten egg to form a creamy cheese mixture. In a separate bowl, repeat the process using the grated Somerset Red.

Step 3 – Roll out the puff pastry sheet onto a lightly floured surface. Use a star-shaped cookie cutter to cut out 12-16 stars. Re-roll the scraps of pastry as needed and cut out additional stars. Using a smaller star cutter, gently press into the centre of each star without cutting all the way through. This creates an indentation that will help the stars hold their shape when baked.

Step 4 – Place the pastry stars on the lined baking sheet, spacing them slightly apart. Add a small amount of the Vintage Cheddar mixture to the centre of half the stars, using the small star indent as a guide. For the remaining stars, add the Somerset Red mixture. Sprinkle a pinch of sumac over each star, then gently press a fig chunk on top of the cheese, ensuring it sits securely.

Step 5 – Lightly brush the edges of each star with the remaining beaten egg to give them a golden finish as they bake.

Step 6 - Bake in the preheated oven for 15-18 minutes, or until the pastry is puffed and golden, and the cheese is melted. Remove from the oven and let the stars cool slightly on the tray.

Step 7 – Arrange the baked stars on a serving platter. While still warm, drizzle each star with honey. Sprinkle with fresh thyme leaves and a pinch of flaky sea salt, if desired, to enhance the flavour.

Top tips

·         Work quickly with the puff pastry to ensure it stays cold; this helps it puff up nicely in the oven.

·         If you prefer, you can use just one type of cheese or try combining Ivy’s Reserve Vintage Cheddar and Somerset Red to bring an extra depth of flavour.

·         If your figs are very juicy, you can roast them separately for 5 minutes before adding them to the pastry stars to prevent sogginess.

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