Star-shaped Biscuits

Whiz the flour, sugar and butter in a processor until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs.

Add the egg and a teaspoon of water and whiz again until the mixture forms a ball. On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough to a thickness of a £1 coin and use the star cutter to punch out the biscuits. With the skewer, make a hole in each one to thread the wire through later. Transfer the biscuits to the baking sheets and bake them for 10-15 minutes, one sheet on the top shelf of the oven and the other on the middle shelf, swapping them halfway through.

Cool on a wire rack.

When the biscuits are cold, roll out the icing on a surface lightly dusted with icing sugar to about 1/8 inch (3 mm). Cut out 12 stars. Lightly brush one side of each biscuit with cooled, boiled water and press an icing star on to each. Make a hole through the icing above the first hole. Decorate by simply pressing silver balls into the icing.

Thread wire through the holes and hang the biscuits on the tree.