Home make & bake - these biscuits can be iced with your guest's names and look great on the Christmas dining table . To personalise your table settings make these biscuits add names or initials or characters and put in each place setting. An added bonus - you can nibble them with your coffee after lunch. If you have kids they'll enjoy helping, too.
You need: 200g/7oz butter, 175ml/6fl oz golden syrup, 170g /6oz sugar, 1- 2tsp ground cinnamon, 1- 2tsp ground cloves, 1- 2tsp ground ginger, grated zest 1 orange, 2 eggs, 510g/1lb 2oz flour, 3tsp baking powder, icing sugar and warm water to decorate.
Preheat oven to 200° C /400° F/ Gas 6. Place butter,syrup,sugar and orange zest into heavy saucepan. Bring to boil briefly and allow to cool. Beat eggs (one at time) with whisk into cooled mixture.
Sift flour and baking powder into large bowl. Add the sugar mixture from pan to the flour a little at a time. make to a dough.
Wrap in cling film and place in fridge overnight.
Remove from fridge - roll out dough to 3mm /1/8" thick. Cut into shapes. Place onto greased baking tray and cook for 5 - 8 minutes. Remove from oven and cool on cooling tray.
Mix icing sugar with a small amount of warm water to make icing. Put into icing bag and use to put names or funny faces or guest's initials on each biscuit.
Enjoy :)
extract from The Christmas Book (available from Dorling Kindersley Books
Christmas Shortbread Cookies - don't expect them to last until Christmas!
To make approximately 24 smaller cookie shapes you need;
125g/4oz caster sugar
250g/8oz butter
350g/12oz sifted plain flour
pinch salt
Beat sugar & butter together in mixing bowl. Sift in flour & salt and work together to form stiff dough. Turn out onto floured surface. Knead lightly until smooth. Don't over handle. Chill dough for 10 to 15 minutes in the fridge.
Roll out the chilled dough onto a floured surface. Cut into shapes with pastry cutters. Place on greased baking sheets and cook Gas 4 /180⁰C/350⁰F for 10 to 15 minutes until golden in colour. Lift very gently onto cooling racks.
Make icing- Mix 60g/20z icing sugar in small bowl with a little drop of warm water until you get the correct consistency. Dribble icing over the biscuits and sprinkle with hundreds and thousands or silver balls or little pieces of angelica/ sweets
These make gorgeous presents or tree hanging decorations. Wrap in cellophane (from florists supplies) or I make a small box out of heavy card and cover with paper and cling film. You can even add the recipe as a little tag! You probably need to make more as lots will get eaten in the process! Enjoy - Jane :)
