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Ingredients
100g/3½oz unsalted butter, softened
100g/3½oz caster sugar
1 egg
275g/10oz plain flour
2 drops vanilla essence
To decorate:
400g/14oz icing sugar
3-4 different food colourings
small sweets, nuts, glace cherries
Method
1. Beat the butter with a wooden spoon until soft.
2. Add the sugar to the butter and beat again until it is light and fluffy.
3. Beat the egg in a separate bowl with a fork and then add gradually to the
butter and sugar, beating all the time.
4. Add the flour and vanilla essence. Draw the mixture into a ball with your
hands.
5. Lightly flour your work surface and roll out the dough until it s about the
same thickness as a #1 coin.
6. Use cutters to make shapes (stars, hearts, christmas trees etc) and make
holes for the ribbon with a skewer. Lift on to a baking sheet with a fish slice.
7. Bake the biscuits for 8-10 minutes at 190C/375F/Gas 5. Leave to harden for a
couple of minutes, then put on a wire rack to cool.
8. For the icing, sift the icing sugar into a large bowl and gradually add
enough hot water to make a soft, firm mixture - about 2-3 tablespoons. .
9. Divide the icing into 3 or 4 bowls and add ½ tsp of colouring to each one (be
careful not to mix the colours!). Spread the icing on to the biscuits with a
table knife. Add ribbons and decorations as you like. |
