Choc Hazelnut Stars

Continuing with the theme of 'handmade' Christmas gifts, I made these Choc Hazelnut Stars as gifts for friends. This recipe is from the 2011 Christmas issue of Super Food Ideas.

125gm butter, softened
3/4 cup brown sugar
1 egg
1/4 cup cocoa powder, sifted
1/2 cup hazelnut meal
1 1/4 cups plain flour, sifted
1/4 cup self raising flour, sifted
100gm dark chocolate, melted
120gm packet dry-roasted hazelnuts
icing sugar mixture, for dusting

1. Cream the butter, sugar and egg in an electric mixer until well combined.
2. In a separate bowl, sift the cocoa powder and flours. Add in the hazelnut meal. Stir this mixture into the creamed butter, sugar and egg.
3. Remove the dough from the mixture and knead into a ball, then flattened into a disc shape. Wrap in plastic wrap and place into a refrigerator for 30 minutes or overnight.
4. Preheat the oven to 150C fan forced. Line baking trays with baking paper.
5. Roll the dough out between two sheets of baking paper until about 1cm thick. Dust the star-shaped cutters lightly with flour and cut out the shapes, re-rolling the dough scraps and repeat the process until all dough has been cut into stars.
6. Place the stars onto prepared trays. Bake in the oven for 10-12 minutes or until just firm to touch.
7. Stand on trays for 10 minutes. Transfer onto a wire rack to cool completely.
8. Spoon the chocolate into a snap-lock bag. Snip 1 corner of the bag with scissors (not too big).
9. Pipe the melted chocolate into the centre of each star. Place a hazelnut (de-skinned) on top.
10. Set aside for 15 minutes to set before dusting with icing sugar mixture and then serve.

Makes about 30-32 pieces.