Finnish Christmas Stars

How to Make Suomalainen Joulutorttu or Tähtitorttu

Here's a favorite Christmas sweet treat from Finland, so festive and just a couple of bites big. All it takes is two ingredients, a box of ready-made frozen puff pastry and good jam, either homemade or from the store. If you've ever made thumbprint cookies with jam centers, you'll love these simple Nordic pastries.

Beautiful Color & Dramatic Star Appearance. (Or Wait, Is It a Pinwheel?! Southern Living calls these "Jam Pinwheels" in this month's issue.) Mere Minutes to the Table. Just Two Ingredients, No Mixer Required. A Fun Baking Project with Kids. Weeknight Easy, Weekend Special. Great for Holiday Food Gifts. Perfect When Cooking for One or Two. Potluck & Party Friendly. Easy DIY. So Good!!

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Finding the Home of Your Heart, One Food, One Star at a Time.

When I lived in Finland for a year as an exchange student, I collected recipes in a small notebook. It's been many moons since that life-changing experience, but I still open the notebook often.

Right there on the third page is my first recipe for what Finns call Joulutorttu [meaning Christmas tart] or Tähtitorttu [meaning Star tart].

But translations are often imprecise. What is a "tart" exactly? And does it fit here?

In the culinary world, a "tart" is a pastry with a filling, usually open-faced without a top crust.

So the translation of tart works, mostly.

What the interpretation misses is the importance of shared foods in a culture. The wistful longing for familiar foods from long ago. The before times when home bakers spread platters of joulutortut for a special holiday kahvipöyta [coffee table, itself a famed Finnish tradition] called a joulupöytä [Christmas table].

Nowadays, it's just me here in my American kitchen, baking a few stars at a time during December, remembering that first and only Christmas in Finland, candles everywhere breaking through the long winter darkness.

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Recipe Overview: Finnish Christmas Stars (Joulutorttu or Tähtitorttu)

• Christmas Stars are the favorite Christmas pastry in Finland. I believe that Christmas Stars are also Finland's most famous pastry worldwide after pulla, its cardamon-spiced braided loaves of sweet bread.

• Many if not most Finnish bakers use a yeast dough made from scratch for their Christmas Stars. Believe it or not, I have such trouble with those doughs that I've given up on them entirely and now use only store-bought puff pastry from the frozen section at grocery stores. I'm not alone: puff pastry is a welcome shortcut during the busy holiday season for Finns and across the Finnish diaspora. It's also how I first learned to make Christmas Stars almost fifty years ago!


• Over the years, I've used several brands of puff pastry though have documented only two. I really love the Wewalka brand from Austria. The Dufour brand has great taste but it's a little too thick, maybe it can be rolled thinner before cutting the squares? The Trader Joe's brand is decent and easy to find though only sold, I believe, during the winter holidays. Good news, puff pastry comes frozen and is easy to keep on hand in the freezer.


• The puff pastry is cut into squares, sliced in a special pattern, topped with a little jam, folded over to create the stars and then baked until golden.


• There is a technique to cutting the pastry to create the Stars. Creating the star shapes is easy, just four cuts in a square of pastry, then folding four points over themselves into the center. The results may look complicated but once you've made one or two, there's no forgetting.


• Plum jam is traditional and my recipe includes two different ways to make plum jam with dried plums aka "prunes". Finns also love an apricot jam for their Christmas Stars. I also have good luck with good store-bought jams, especially if they are already quite thick and colorful. If not, these jams may be cooked down a bit to make them a little thicker.


• Christmas Stars require no special tools, just a sharp small knife. That said, Christmas Stars are such a favorite in Finland that ambitious metal workers do make a special tool, similar to a cookie cutter, that cuts the square and slices the special pattern all at once. I actually own one, dating way back to 1976, but find it fiddly. A sharp small knife works much better.


• Distinctive Ingredients = Puff Pastry + Jam (either homemade or store-bought)


• Short Ingredient List = just those two!


• For Garnish = a light sprinkle of powdered sugar


• The Stars are so pretty! They look really beautiful when added to a plate or platter of Christmas cookies.


• Some Finns make their Stars so so big, the size of a large hand, say. Me, I like cookies and other sweets to be small, just two or three bites big, so I use three-inch squares (about 7.5cm). If your Inner Finn prefers something larger, just cut bigger squares.


• This is a time-friendly recipe. Once the puff pastry has thawed and the jam is made, it takes only about 5 minutes to make the individual Stars. They bake in 15-20 minutes in the oven, need a short cool-down period, then dig in!


• This is pantry-friendly recipe since puff pastry can be ready and waiting in the freezer, so can jam.


• I use puff pastry brands which yield 9 and 12 Stars per roll or 18 or 24 Stars per two-roll box. Other brands may vary. If you want to do a little math, look at the pastry dimensions on the box, then figure out how many squares you can make, shooting for 3 inches square.


• This recipe works especially well for those Cooking for One or Two. During December, I'll throw two or three into the oven as we sit down to eat, then put the rest of the pastry roll back in the fridge for another day.


• So good! I hope you love these!


• Not quite what you're looking for? Check out my other Scandinavian recipes including other Christmas specialties like Homemade Swedish Potato Sausage and Norwegian Lefse. If you'd like to get in the Christmas spirit, definitely watch the lefse video, produced by my cousin (a life-long lefse maker) and her husband (a television producer), it's a masterpiece!

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How to Make Finnish Christmas Stars – Photo Tutorial

You can totally do this! The kiddos can totally do this!

Seriously, puff pastry is not only easy to cut but also quite forgiving in the oven. And if you can put jam on toast, you can definitely put jam onto Christmas stars.

You've got this! You DO!

top | after the puff pastry thaws, gently lay out the sheet flat, then cut the sheet into squares, how many squares will vary (based on the size of the sheet and the size of the squares), no need to measure, just eyeball it, I usually aim for about three-inch squares
bottom | gently lift each square onto a parchment-lined baking sheet, arranging about an inch apart.

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top | use a sharp knife to make four cuts from the center out to each corner but, this is important, leave the center itself (where the jam will go) uncut
bottom | spoon 2 - 3 teaspoons of jam into the center of each square

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top | gently lift one corner's point and fold the pastry over itself, positioning the point in the center of the jam
bottom | repeat with the remaining three points, then gently press the four points into the jam

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above | bake the stars at the temperature and for the time specified on the puff pastry box, watch the time, you want these to turn crisp and golden but not to scorch or burn
above | let the pastries cool for about 15 minutes, then dust with a little powdered sugar

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You Might Wonder Be Wondering ...

Have another question? Ask away, I'll do my best to answer!

• Are Finnish Christmas Stars authentically Finnish? Absolutely. I learned to make the simple Scandinavian pastries way back when I was an exchange student in Finland some sumpty-sumpty years ago. These days, I smile when the Finnish diaspora in Finnish Facebook groups becomes so excited when pictures of their much beloved joulutorttu begin to pop up before the holidays. Many Finns use a yeast dough instead of puff pastry. I've done this too and it might well be my choice if I were serving these for a big group, say, since puff pastry is not inexpensive. But. On the other hand, my first recipe for Christmas Stars from years back called for store-bought puff pastry and heaven knows, a simple Christmas-y treat is much appreciated during the busy-ness business of the holiday season. Puff pastry is definitely traditional too!

• Can Finnish Christmas Stars be made ahead of time? Maybe. I checked my notes from Finnish bakers to get the inside word of experience. Their advice? Serve the Stars warm from the oven for guests. After that, the baked Stars turn either soggy or dry after two days but may be briefly refreshed in the oven, never the microwave. But this is interesting, worth a try: they also say that you can make the Stars and freeze them, before baking! This might give you a few days head start. That said, I wonder if it wouldn't be unwieldy to freeze and safely store very many Stars for more than a few days. Thoughts?


• Are Finnish Christmas Stars good for homemade food gifts during the holidays? Yes! Just bake a few and deliver just-baked to a neighbor with a sweet tooth, the grandkids for an after-school treat, a friend who doesn't get out much in the winter.


• Are Finnish Christmas Stars good for a cookie swap or cookie exchange? No. These are best on the first day though do keep for another couple of days. During December, I bake two or three many evenings when it's just the two of us.

For Best Results

For my weekly column in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, I interviewed chefs and translated their restaurant recipes for home kitchens. The most illuminating question? "How can a home cook ensure the same results?" So now I ask that question of myself, too, for my own recipes. Have another question? Ask away, I'll do my best to answer!

Do bake Finnish Christmas Stars on parchment! I learned this the hard way when a friend (a fellow exchange student, we've been friends for almost 50 years!) and I and our husbands rented a cottage on an island in Lake Erie this spring. I didn't think to pack parchment and our Star pastries (and dang, also my pulla, the Finnish cardamon braids) burned on the bottoms. We ate around the burn but ...

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Hungry Yet?
A Menu for the Winter Solstice

(the date varies each year, from December 21, 22 or 23,
in 2024, it's on Saturday, December 21)

Smoked Salmon or
Smoked Salmon Spread
Havarti Cheese
with Finn-Crisp Crackers

Finnish Rosolli Salad

Finnish Meatballs
with Lingonberry Preserves or Homemade Whole Cranberry Sauce for the Slow Cooker
Boiled Mini Potatoes with Warm Butter & Fresh Dill
Swedish Red Cabbage & Apples

Coffee with Cloudberry Liqueur
Finnish Christmas Stars
(recipe below)

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Why I Love These Christmas Stars & You Might Too

• ... just two ingredients, both easy to keep on hand
• ... the jam can be homemade (and it keeps!) or store-bought, either one
• ... then just a few minutes of prep, a few minutes in the oven and voila, they're ready
• ... nice to have a simple but special treat that doesn't feed an army
• ... the Stars feel ... let's call it intentional ... not something to just grab on the run or dunk into coffee
• Ready to get started? Here's your recipe!

Bookmark! PIN! Share!

How do you save and share favorite recipes? recipes that fit your personal cooking style? a particular recipe your mom or daughter or best friend would just love? If this recipe inspires you, please do save and share! I'd be honored ...

~ PIN This Recipe (apricot) ~

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FINNISH CHRISTMAS STARS (Joulutorttu or Tähtitorttu)

Hands-on time: 5 minutes (assumes jam is made)
Time-to-table: 30 minutes (assumes puff pastry is thawed)
Makes 1 or 2 or a few stars at a time; each puff pastry roll makes 9-12 Stars (varies by brand)

Please know. Different brands of puff pastry have different size sheets, different thawing directions and different baking temperatures. If in doubt, please follow the directions on the brand you're using.

PUFF PASTRY
• 1 or 2 rolls frozen puff pastry, thawed according to box instructions

PRUNE JAM
Makes about 1 cup, enough for 16 - 24 stars
• 1 cup (133g) pitted prunes, finely chopped
• 1/2 cup (100g) sugar
• Water to cover
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice

FANCY-PANTS PRUNE JAM
Makes about 1 cup, enough for 16 - 24 stars
• 2/3 cup (100g) pitted prunes, finely chopped
• 1/3 cup (33g) chopped dried cherries, dried cranberries, crystallized ginger, etc.
• 1/2 cup (100g) sugar
• Sprinkle ground cardamon
• Water to cover
• 1/2 cup red wine

GOOD JAM
• 1 cup store-bought jam (apricot, cranberry, fig, lingonberry, marmalade, etc.), should be quite thick

THAW THE PUFF PASTRY Check the box for instructions, timing varies by brand. (Trader Joe's Puff Pastry specifies either thawing overnight in the fridge or for two hours on the counter.)

MAKE THE PRUNE JAM In a medium-size, heavy saucepan, bring the prunes, sugar and water to a boil. Reduce the heat to maintain a slow simmer and let simmer, stirring often, until the mixture thickens to a thick, jam-like mixture. Turn off the heat and stir in the lemon juice. Let cool. If the mixture is firm but easy to spoon, great, it's ready. If it's stiff and sticky, stir in hot water a tablespoon at a time until the mixture is thick but spoonable. This may be made ahead of time, just transfer to a small jar and refrigerate.

~ OR ~ MAKE THE FANCY-PANTS PRUNE JAM In a medium-size, heavy saucepan, bring the prunes, other dried fruit, sugar and water to a boil. Reduce the heat to maintain a slow simmer and let simmer, stirring often, until the water is mostly evaporated. Stir in the wine and simmer until the mixture thickens to a thick, jam-like mixture. Turn off the heat. Let cool. If the mixture is firm but easy to spoon, great, it's ready. If it's stiff and sticky, stir in hot water or wine a tablespoon at a time until the mixture is thick but spoonable. This may be made ahead of time, just transfer to a small jar and refrigerate.

~ OR ~ OPEN A JAR OF GOOD JAM Apricot jam is a favorite in Finland, marmalade is wonderful and I'm always tempted to use lingonberry preserves. Check the jam, it might need to be heated to thicken up a bit; you might even test bake one star, just to see how the jam performs. You want to the jam to soften and spread a bit but not to drain entirely out of the center.

LET'S BAKE! Heat the oven to the baking temperature stated on the puff pastry box. (Trader Joe's is 400F/200C.) Line a baking sheet with parchment.

THE FUN PART! From here on, work as quickly as you can, once exposed to air, the dough begins to dry out and become more difficult to work with. These next steps are way easier to do than they read. Be sure to check out the photos, how to photos above.

• UNROLL A PASTRY SHEET Once the puff pastry is thawed, gently open the roll to spread the dough, still on the paper that keeps the dough from sticking together, out flat. (If it's been thawed at room temperature, the dough may be soft and a bit sticky, just work carefully without stretching or tearing the dough. If it's been thawed in the fridge, it may need a few minutes to warm up a bit before unrolling.)

• CUT PASTRY SHEET INTO SQUARES With a sharp knife, cut as many squares as you want about 3 inches square; it's easy to eyeball, the puff pastries I've tried are about 12 inches wide, that means four squares at a time, 12 squares per roll.
• MOVE SQUARES ONTO THE BAKING SHEET Gently lift each square and arrange on the parchment, leaving about an inch or so between them, this means a baking sheet will most easily hold just 9 not 12, 12 might be a stretch but worth a try.
• CUT LINES IN EACH SQUARE Now it's time to cut into each square, these lines will create the points of the stars.
• First, eyeball where the Jam will be in the center of the square.
• Working from the center out, but without cutting the actual center where the Jam will go, make four cuts from where the Jam stops to each corner.
• ADD A DAB OF JAM Place 2 - 3 teaspoons of Jam in the center of each square.
• FOLD THE DOUGH TO CREATE THE STARS Pick up one corner's point and fold it over itself to the center. Repeat with alternate points, gently pressing the four points into the center of the jam.

Bake for about 15 minutes or until crisp and golden both on top and underneath.

Let cool for about 15 minutes, then sprinkle with powdered sugar.

Serve just barely warm (my favorite) or within a few hours. If baking ahead of time, transfer to an airtight container as soon as the pastries are cool. Best on the first day but these do keep for a day or two.

CLEVER VARIATIONS

BELOW? ON TOP? Now know this. Some Finns put the jam on top of the points or a bit below and more on top after baking. I go back and forth. When the jam is beneath the points, it peeks out all pretty-looking. The little tarts are also easier to store without being too sticky. When the jam is on top of the points, it's dramatic in appearance but harder to store. Baker's Choice!

DIFFERENT SHAPES Finnish bakers are so creative! The star shape I show here is the classic way to make stars from squares of dough. But there are several other lovely shapes. This video is in Finnish but it quickly moves through other methods, it may be the most peaceful four minutes of your holiday! This page is also in Finnish but includes a great image of various cuts.

ALANNA's TIPS In my experience, a box of puff pastry includes two rolls. One roll makes 9 - 12 Christmas Stars. I usually thaw just one roll at a time, that way I can bake 3 or 4 Christmas Stars at a time over a few days. So long as it remains tightly wrapped, the rest of the roll keeps in the fridge for a few days.

FOR MORE INFO If you "skipped straight to the recipe," please scroll back to the top of this page for ingredient information, ingredient substitutions, tips and more. If you print this recipe, you'll want to check the recipe online for even more tips and extra information about ingredient substitutions, best results and more. See https://www.kitchenparade.com/2024/12/finnish-christmas-stars.html .

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Seasonal Baking: Up to Your Elbows in Sugar and Flour?

Frosty Christmas Trees Homemade Microwave Caramel Corn Gourmet Chocolate Mocha Cookies Gingerbread Muffins Graham Cracker Toffee Cranberry Macadamia-Butter Cookies Butter Tart Bars Perfect M&M Cookies Sesame Candy Fresh Cranberry Drop Cookies Chocolate Ginger Crinkle Cookies Colored Roll-Out Sugar Cookies Holiday Baking Tips from a Certifiable Cookie-Baking Fiend No-Roll Christmas Sugar Cookies Bourbon Pralines Slice 'n' Bake Coffee Cookies with Chocolate-Covered Espresso Beans Fresh Cranberry Cake Chocolate-Almond Shortbread Cookies Christmas Banana Bread Fresh Cranberry Bars Old-Fashioned Chocolate Chip Cookies Family Shortbread Cranberry Walnut Bread Big Fat Chewy Molasses Cookies Gingerbread Snickerdoodle Bars

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A Taste of Finland: Iconic Finnish Desserts You Need to Try

more
~ Finnish recipes ~
long-time favorites since living in Finland for a year

• THE RECIPE Finnish Fruit Tart For blueberries, raisins, lingonberries, sweet & sour cherries, rhubarb and more ... (PIN This)
• THE BITE-SIZE VERSION Mini Blueberry Tarts With a "pop" of fresh blueberry right in the middle.

• THE RECIPE Finnish Tiger Cake With chocolate stripes, just like a tiger!
• ANOTHER TAKE Estonian Apple Cake A wordly, neighborly cake. (PIN This)

• THE RECIPE Finnish Strawberry Whipped Cream Cake A real celebration cake. (PIN This)
• ANOTHER TAKE Chocolate Cream Puffs Stuffed with Strawberries & Cream Chocolate, strawberries and cream, just two bites big.

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Shop Your Pantry First

(helping home cooks save money on groceries)

~ prune (dried plum) recipes ~
~ puff pastry recipes ~
~ recipes using jam ~

~ All Recipes, By Ingredient ~
~ How to Save Money on Groceries ~

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Kitchen Parade is written by second-generation food columnist Alanna Kellogg and features fresh, seasonal dishes for every-day healthful eating and occasional indulgences. Quick Suppers are Kitchen Parade favorites and feature recipes easy on the budget, the clock, the waistline and the dishwasher. Do you have a favorite recipe that other Kitchen Parade readers might like? Just send me a quick e-mail, you'll find my current address in the FAQs. How to print a Kitchen Parade recipe. Never miss a recipe! If you like this recipe, sign up for a free e-mail subscription. If you like Kitchen Parade, for more scratch cooking recipes using whole, healthful ingredients, you're sure to like my food blog about vegetable recipes, too, A Veggie Venture. If you make this recipe, I'd love to know your results! Just leave a comment below.

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