Master the festive table: Create the stunning poppy seed star
Before the holiday baking begins, a challenging task awaits. Not only do they need to taste good, but they should also look exceptional. It must be admitted that the poppy seed star fits this role perfectly. Anyone seeing it for the first time can't help but admire it. Everyone wonders how it's made. It turns out it's simple when an ordinary kitchen glass comes to help.
The poppy seed star looks so good that it's almost a shame to cut it. Once you decide to make this pastry, I'm certain it will take centre stage on the Christmas table. Many people avoid star-shaped cakes due to the complex pattern. Perhaps it's worth giving it a try this time? After all, in this form, it looks far better than a traditional roulade, yet it is just as easy to prepare.
The poppy seed star connects to religious symbolism
The shape of the cake obviously references the Star of Bethlehem, which, according to Christian tradition, guided the wise men from the East to the newborn Jesus. However, the symbolism of the star can also have a more universal dimension. After all, stars high in the sky point to something grand and unattainable.
In addition to the symbolism of the star, there is also the significance of poppy seeds. The seeds in the sweet filling symbolise fertility and abundance. They also indicate a connection to the world of the dead. In Greek mythology, poppy seeds were dedicated to the goddess Demeter, who was responsible not only for fertility but also for sleep and forgetfulness.
How to make the filling for the poppy seed star?
You can use your tried-and-tested recipe for poppy seed filling. After all, the base is the recipe for traditional poppy seed cake. If you buy dry poppy seeds, you have to grind them three times in a meat grinder.
Ingredients for the poppy seed filling:
- 125 grams ground poppy seeds,
- 125 ml boiling water,
- 2 tablespoons sugar,
- 30 grams ground walnuts,
- 30 grams raisins,
- 1 tablespoon honey,
- 1 beaten egg white,
- 1 teaspoon soft butter.
Instructions:
- Pour boiling water over the ground poppy seeds and let them cool. Add 2 tablespoons of sugar, ground walnuts, and raisins.
- Mix with a tablespoon of honey, beaten egg white, and soft butter. Save the yolk from the broken egg to brush the star just before placing it in the oven.
Recipe for yeast dough
In the poppy seed star, the sweet filling is layered between simple yeast dough rounds.
Ingredients:
- 250 grams all-purpose flour,
- 2 teaspoons dried yeast,
- 2 tablespoons sugar,
- 1 egg,
- 90 ml warm milk,
- 2 tablespoons soft butter.
How to make yeast dough for the poppy seed star?
- Mix flour with dried yeast. Add sugar, egg, warm milk, and soft butter.
- Knead the dough with a mixer with hooks, and when the ingredients combine, knead by hand. Cover with a clean cloth and set aside in a warm place to rise.
- After about 1 hour, knead the dough again by hand and divide it into 4 parts. Roll each into a circle.
A simple way to assemble the poppy seed star
When you have ready dough rounds and poppy seed filling, it's time to assemble the star. Place the first dough round on a large baking tray lined with parchment paper. Add one-third of the filling, keeping a margin of about 1 cm from the edge of the dough. Cover with the second round, add the filling again, place the third round, the remaining poppy seed filling, and cover with the last round.
Now it's time for the glass. Press it gently in the centre of the dough to mark a small circle, from which the cuts will radiate. Use a sharp knife to make cuts from the line of this circle outward – first dividing into 4 quarters, and then each quarter into 4 parts. This way, you'll get 16 rays extending from the circle in the centre. Pair them by twisting each piece of dough spirally 2 times toward each other. Seal the ends of each pair together. Brush the finished star with the beaten egg yolk and place it in the oven for 25 minutes at 180°C without convection.
