Finnish Christmas Stars

Preheat oven to 400 degrees (F).

To make the filling, combine prunes with water, sugar and spices and in a medium-sized pot, then simmer over medium-low heat for 15-20 minutes. Remove from heat and mash prunes with fork or small masher.

While mixture is heating, open up thawed pastry sheets and cut each sheet into nine squares (18 squares total). Make cuts from each corner of the squares, halfway to the middle. Create pinwheels by taking each corner of pastry and pressing it in the middle, repeating with each corner until a pinwheel forms. Place dollop of prune mixture on top of pinwheel (this makes for a prettier star). Alternatively, place dollop of mixture in middle of the square and create pinwheel by wrapping the dough over the filling.

Put the stars on cookie sheets (will probably take two sheets) and put in oven for 15 minutes, or until pastry is golden brown.

Cool on cookie rack and top with powdered sugar. Place in the hands of Christmas cookie-eating monsters and watch stars disappear instantly!