Traditional European Christmas recipe: Klejner (fried cookies)

Sieve the cake flour, castor sugar and baking powder into a medium mixing bowl.

With your fingertips or with a food processor, work in the butter to a crumbly stage.

Mix the cream, egg and cardamom seeds, and pour into the butter mixture, cutting in until well combined.

Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate, about 30 minutes.

Fill a medium pot with oil and heat to about 190°C.

Roll the dough out onto a floured work surface to a thickness of about 5mm. Use cookie cutters to cut out desired shapes. The traditional shape is a slightly warped diamond shape but we used stars in the spirit of Christmas.

Drop the stars carefully into the hot oil and cook until golden brown on both sides. Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towel.

Transfer to a serving platter and dust with icing sugar. Serve immediately.