BASIC BUTTER BISCUIT DOUGH

Makes about 30-40 biscuits, depending on size

Ingredients:

250g butter, softened

140g caster sugar

1 extra-large egg yolk

10ml (2 tsp) vanilla essence

300g cake flour

Method:

Using an electric mixer, beat the butter and sugar together until light and creamy. Add the egg yolk and vanilla and beat to combine. Sift in the flour and blend until well combined. Divide the dough into 2 balls or logs, cover with plastic wrap and chill for 40 minutes. Roll out each ball between 2 sheets of greaseproof paper or plastic wrap to a thickness of 5mm.

VANILLA BISCUITS

Ingredients:

1 basic biscuit dough recipe

Method:

Preheat the oven to 180ºC. Roll out the dough according to the basic recipe and, using cookie cutters of your choice, cut out the different shapes. Place on greased or sprayed baking sheets and bake for about 10-12 minutes or until pale golden. Transfer to a wire rack and allow to cool completely. Decorate as desired.

LEMON FINGERS

Ingredients:

1 basic biscuit dough recipe

Zest of 2 lemons

Icing:

150g icing sugar, sifted

30ml (2 tbsp) fresh lemon juice

Zest of 1 lemon

Method:

Make up the basic biscuit dough, adding the lemon zest to the creamed butter and sugar. Chill the dough as per basic recipe, then roll out into a large rectangle. Using a pizza cutter, cut the dough into strips measuring 10cm x 2cm. Lay out on a greased or sprayed baking tray and bake for 10-12 minutes in a preheated oven at 180ºC. Remove and cool on a wire rack.

For the icing, mix the icing sugar with lemon juice and zest. Dip one half of each biscuit into the icing and leave to dry on a wire rack.

RAISIN ROLLERS

Ingredients:

1 basic biscuit dough recipe

100g raisins

Method:

Add the raisins to the basic biscuit dough when adding the flour. Roll into 2 logs as per basic recipe. Cover and chill (or freeze to bake later). When ready to bake, slice the log into 5mm-thick rounds, place on greased or sprayed baking sheets and bake in a preheated oven at 180ºC for 8-10 minutes. Remove and cool on a wire rack. The raisins can be replaced with the same amount of coconut, chopped nuts or dried cranberries.