CHRISTMAS VANILLA AND ALMOND SHORTBREAD COOKIES
 
 
Ingredients
  • ALMOND AND VANILLA SHORTBREAD
  • 350g plain flour
  • 55g caster sugar (1/4 cup)
  • 60g almond meal
  • A pinch of salt
  • 200g unsalted butter, cubed
  • 2 egg yolks
  • ½ tsp vanilla paste
  • 40ml water, chilled (2 tbsp or so)
  • ROYAL ICING
  • 250g icing sugar (2 cups, 9 oz)
  • 1 egg white
  • ½ tsp lemon juice
Method
  1. Put the flour, sugar, salt, almond meal and butter into the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment (or in a food processor) and mix on a low speed until the mixture resembles coarse breadcrumbs.
  2. Add the egg yolks, vanilla and the cold water while the mixer is still running. Continue to mix until a dough forms. Divide the dough in half and shape each half into a disc. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for about 2 hours.
  3. When you are ready to bake, preheat the oven to 180 C (350 F) and line several trays with baking paper. Remove the dough from the refrigerator and allow it to soften slightly.
  4. Roll out each disc between two sheets of baking paper until it is about 3mm (1/8 inch) thick. Cut out the shapes of your choice with a cookie cutter. Gather the leftover dough together and repeat the process until you have used all the dough. The dough it quite sticky so work fast.
  5. Place the cookies on the lined baking trays and bake, in batches, for 15-20 minutes, until puffed and golden. Allow the cookies to cool on the trays.
  6. To make the icing, sift the icing sugar into a bowl. Place the egg white in a separate large bowl and add 1 tablespoon of the icing sugar. Using a wooden spoon, beat to form a smooth paste. Keep adding the icing sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, combining well after each addition. Stir in the lemon juice.
  7. Place the icing in a piping bag fitted with a fine nozzle and pipe your desired decorations onto your cookies.
  8. They can be stored in an airtight container for up to two weeks. Makes 50+ cookies.
  9. Happy baking!
Recipe by Butter Baking at https://www.butterbaking.com/2016/12/12/christmas-vanilla-and-almond-shortbread-cookies/