Shortbread Biscuits

Notes Powdered sugar: if you don't have any powdered sugar/icing sugar than you can use castor sugar or regular granulated sugar. Just pop it in to a blender/spice/coffee grinder and grind until the consistency resembles that of powdered sugar/icing sugar. You can use white/light brown sugar. Salt: so not add additional if you are using salted butter as you don't want the cookies to be too salty. Add-ons: you can easily add chopped nuts, chocolate chips, small nougat pieces etc. You can experiment as you like. I prefer chopped almonds. You can also melt some chocolate and once the cookies have cooled down, you can dip them in chocolate - divine!

Unbalanced

% Daily Values based on a 2,000 calorie diet

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 160℃/320℉. Prepare your baking tray with baking paper.

Step 2

Add butter and powdered sugar to a large bowl and mix until fully combined.

Step 3

Add flour and salt (see notes). Mix until fully combined and you are left with a smooth dough. Note: If the butter-sugar mixture is slightly cold before adding in the flour then I'd recommend you mix until the dough is just combined and then tip it on to a clean working surface and continue combining it with your hands (as seen in the video). If the butter-sugar mixture is room temp then it should combine very quickly in the bowl so no need to tip on to a surface.

Step 4

If you'd like to add chopped nuts, chocolate chips etc. then add it to the dough prior to shaping.

Step 5

Once the dough is fully combined, you can roll out the dough and use a cookie cutter or shape the dough into a log form and section with a knife. I then place each ball on the prepared baking sheet, place a small piece of baking paper on top and press down using a masher (I just like how the edges look once baked). But you can use anything to flatten them e.g. your palms, a mug, a fork or anything that makes a cute shape or indentation. It really doesn't matter, just know that they don't spread much during the baking process so the thickness/shape will be similar once they've baked.

Step 6

Bake for 20-25 minutes at 160℃/320℉. I prefer a toastier biscuit so I bake it for 25minutes but if you prefer it paler then aim for 20minutes in the oven.