Bake your own Christmas Gifts - Cardamom Shortbread (From Worcester News)

Bake your own Christmas Gifts - Cardamom Shortbread

8:24am Friday 27th November 2009 in

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Makes: 12 rounds

Preparation time: 20 minutes plus time to chill the pastry

Cooking time: 15 minutes

Ingredients:

225g (8oz) plain flour
115g (4oz) cornflour
225g (8oz) unsalted butter, softened
55g (2oz) caster sugar
55g (2oz) icing sugar, sieved
12 green cardamoms
Method:

1. Sieve the flour and cornflour together.
2. Beat the butter and sugars together in a bowl until soft and fluffy.
3. Split open the cardamom pods and place the seeds into a pestle and mortar and grind to a powder. Add the cardamom powder to the butter and sugar mixture along with the flour and cornflour and then knead well to make a dough.
4. hape into a ball then flatten and wrap in cling film. Chill for about 15 minutes.
5. Preheat the oven to 180°C, 350°F, Gas Mark 4. Grease 2 baking sheets.
6. Roll out the dough to about 5mm (¼”) thick then use a 7cm (2¾”) diameter cutter to cut out the biscuits.
7. Place on the baking sheets then bake for about 12-15 minutes, or until pale golden brown. Allow to cool slightly on the baking sheets before transferring to a rack to cool completely.

For more delicious recipes and the chance to meet and film with celebrity chef Phil Vickery see www.carnation.co.uk/competition (over 18s only).