Melting Moments

Often eaten with eyes involuntarily shut, they're so good. This recipe should make about 32.

250g unsalted butter, softened

1 teaspoon vanilla essence

1/2 cup pure icing sugar, sifted

2 cups plain flour

1/3 cup cornflour

Passionfruit filling

60g butter, softened

1 large passionfruit

1 cup pure icing sugar, sifted

 

Preheat oven to 160°C. Line 2 baking trays with non-stick baking paper.

Using an electric mixer, cream butter, vanilla and icing sugar until light and fluffy. Sift flours over butter mixture. Beat on low speed until a soft dough forms.

Roll heaped teaspoonfuls of mixture into small balls. Place on trays. Using a fork dipped in flour, lightly flatten each biscuit until 1cm thick. Bake for 15 minutes or until firm. Cool on trays for 10 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

Make passionfruit filling: Using an electric mixer, beat butter until light and fluffy. Stir in passionfruit pulp and icing sugar.

Spread flat side of 1 biscuit with 1 teaspoon filling. Top with another biscuit. Repeat with remaining biscuits and filling. Dust with icing sugar.

Shortbread

Not just for Christmas, but for Fair time too! This recipe should make about 50 biscuits.

Melted butter, to grease
225g (1 1/2 cups) plain flour
120g (2/3 cup) McKenzie's Rice Flour
100g (1/2 cup) caster sugar
Pinch of salt
225g cold butter, coarsely chopped
Plain flour, extra, to dust
Melted white chocolate, to decorate

Preheat oven to 150°C. Brush 2 large baking trays with melted butter to lightly grease. Combine the flour, rice flour, sugar and salt in a large bowl. Use your fingertips to rub in the butter until it resembles fine breadcrumbs. Turn onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth. Roll dough out until 1cm thick. Use a 5cm-diameter star-shaped pastry cutter to cut shapes from dough. Place on prepared trays. Bake in oven for 45 minutes, swapping trays halfway through cooking, or until shortbreads start to change colour. Cool on trays for 1 hour. Drizzle with chocolate to decorate.

Chocolate Chip Biscuits

Choc Chip Biscuits

You could also use white or dark chocolate, or even lollies like smarties.
225g butter, softened
½ cup sugar
¼ cup Nestle Sweetened Condensed Milk
2 cups plain flour
1 tsp baking powder
¾ cup Nestle Milk Choc Bits
Preheat oven to 190
Cream butter and sugar in a medium bowl.
Beat in sweetened condensed milk. Cream until the mixture is light and fluffy.
Sift flour and baking powder.
Stir into butter mixture with choc bits.
Roll tablespoonfuls of mixture into balls. Place on a lined oven tray.
Press biscuits down with a fork to flatten.
Bake in preheated oven for 15mins or until the biscuits are golden brown. oC.

Gingerbread Biscuits

Gingerbread Biscuits
Make them ladies, men, stars, free form....

¾ cup brown sugar
1 cup butter
1 ½ teaspoon bi-carb soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon ginger
1 egg
½ cup golden syrup
3 ¼ cups plain flour

Cream butter and sugar. Add egg and syrup and beat until smooth. Add dry ingredients.
Roll pastry on a floured board and cut into shapes.
Bake 180
This recipe can be made without eggs and ginger and it still works. oC until golden.

Anzac Biscuits

Anzac Biscuits

A classic!
110g (1 ¼ cups) rolled oats (Uncle Toby’s)
150g (1 cup) plain flour, sifted
65g (¾ cup) desiccated coconut
150g (¾ cup, firmly packed) brown sugar
1 tsp ground cinnamon
125g butter, cubed
60ml (¼ cup) water
2 tblsp golden syrup
1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
Preheat oven to 150
Combine the rolled oats, flour, desiccated coconut, sugar and cinnamon in a medium bowl, and mix well.
Combine the butter, water and golden syrup in a small saucepan. Place over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the butter melts. Remove from the heat and stir in the bicarbonate of soda. Add immediately to the dry ingredients and use a wooden spoon to stir to combine.
Roll walnut-size portions of mixture into ball s and place on the lined tray about 5cm apart (the biscuits will spread during cooking). Flatten each ball slightly.
Bake in preheated oven for 22 – 25 mins or until cooked through and beginning to darken around the edges. Set aside for 2-3 mins before transferring to a wire rack to cool.
Hints: Use the base of a glass to flatten these biscuits.
For chewy Anzacs, bake the biscuits for 18 minutes.
Makes 50 (approx) oC. Line a baking tray with non-stick baking paper.