# What You Need:
→ Puff Pastry Stars
01 - 1 sheet frozen puff pastry, thawed (8.5 x 8.5 inches)
02 - 1 large egg, beaten (for egg wash)
03 - 1 tablespoon sesame seeds
→ Herbed Cream Cheese
04 - 7 ounces cream cheese, softened
05 - 2 tablespoons fresh dill, finely chopped
06 - 1 tablespoon fresh chives, finely chopped
07 - 1 teaspoon lemon zest
08 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
→ Assembly
09 - 5 ounces smoked salmon, thinly sliced
10 - 1 small cucumber, thinly sliced
11 - 1 tablespoon capers, rinsed
12 - Fresh dill sprigs, for garnish
13 - Lemon wedges, for serving
# How-To Steps:
01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a baking tray with parchment paper.
02 - Roll out thawed puff pastry on a lightly floured surface. Use a star-shaped cookie cutter to cut out stars and place them on the prepared tray.
03 - Brush each star with beaten egg and sprinkle evenly with sesame seeds.
04 - Bake stars for 12 to 15 minutes until golden and puffed. Transfer to a wire rack and allow to cool completely.
05 - In a mixing bowl, combine softened cream cheese, chopped dill, chopped chives, lemon zest, salt, and pepper. Mix until smooth and well blended.
06 - Carefully slice each cooled star horizontally in half. Spread a generous layer of herbed cream cheese onto the bottom half.
07 - Top the cream cheese layer with smoked salmon, cucumber slices, and capers. Place the top half of the star on each assembled base.
08 - Arrange finished stars on a serving platter. Garnish with fresh dill sprigs and serve with lemon wedges.
