Tag Archives: shortbread

Barbara’s Shortbread

Posted in Frugal, Homemade Gifts, Parenting, Recipes, Thoughts, Useful by

An incredibly simple recipe, using only 3 ingredients.  Easy to make, and especially good for you to help kiddies make themselves!  A frugal recipe, that costs approximately 20p for 12 biscuits!

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Ingredients

2oz butter

1oz caster sugar, plus extra to finish

3oz plain flour

Method

  1. Preheat the oven to 190°C (170°C for fan assisted ovens).
  2. Line a baking tray with greaseproof paper.
  3. Using the back of a wooden spoon, beat the butter and sugar together, until creamy.
  4. Stir in the flour, part by part, until fully combined.
  5. Turn the dough out on to a slightly floured work surface, and roll to approximately 1.5cm / ½ inch thick.
  6. Cut out “fingers”, or shapes, using cookie cutters, and place them on the lined baking tray.
  7. Optional: Using a fork, prick the shapes.
  8. Sprinkle the top of the biscuits with the left-over caster sugar, and chill for 20 minutes.
  9. Bake in the oven for 15-20 minutes, or until golden brown.
  10. Allow to cool on the tray, then enjoy!

 

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Shortbread & Coconut Shortbread

Posted in Christmas, Crafts, Frugal, Homemade Gifts, Recipes, School, Thoughts, Useful by

It’s Gnings’ last day in school tomorrow, as he is breaking up for Christmas.  I can’t believe how quickly it has come around!

I’ve been struggling for ideas on what he should give to his teacher, and two teaching assistants, as a gift for Christmas; and with money being a bit tight too (I’m still on maternity leave), I didn’t really want to spend a lot.  So I thought, everyone loves biscuits, so that’s what we’ll do.  And that’s what we did!

I think I managed to make about 50 stars, and 35 “gingerbread” biscuits.  The stars cost approx. 50p, and the “gingerbread” ones about 75p.

Here’s the recipe:~

125g butter, softened

55g caster sugar

180g plain flour (all-purpose)

OPTIONAL – (1tbsp desiccated coconut)

Drop of water

  1. Preheat your oven to 190C (170C for fan assisted).
  2. Line a baking tray (or two) with greaseproof paper.
  3. Place the butter and sugar in a large mixing bowl, and cream together, using the back of a large, wooden spoon.
  4. Sift in all of the flour, in one go, and stir it all together using the spoon (this is also the part where you will add the coconut – if you are going to.  This worked absolutely wonderfully).  When you’re unable to stir any more, use one of your hands to start “bringing the mixture together”, in to a dough.
  5. Add just a drop or two of water – just enough so the mixture starts to meld nicely.  Don’t add too much, otherwise it’ll end up all sticky, and icky.
  6. Once the dough has formed a lovely ball, turn out on to a work surface, that has had a ‘scattering’ of icing sugar (powdered / confectioners sugar), and roll out with a rolling pin, so that it’s about 1cm thick.
  7. Cut out your required shape(s) – squares, rectangles, circles, stars, etc. – and place on the lined baking tray.
  8. Lightly prick the top of the biscuits with a fork, and sprinkle a little more caster sugar on the top of each.
  9. Throw them in the oven (well, not literally) for 15-20 minutes, or until a golden brown colour.
  10. Allow to cool fully before digging in.  Be careful though!  They are incredibly moreish.

Excuse the pics – my camera is playing up a little 😦

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And this is how I packaged them up – all ready for Gningy to take in to school tomorrow:

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