Nut and Spice Cookie Recipes -
After-Dinner
Cookies
Ingredients
1 1/3
cups/200
g
allpurpose/plain
flour
1/8 tsp salt
2/3 cup/150 g butter,
softened
1/2 cup/100 g granulated
sugar
1 large egg
1 tbsp finely grated lemon
zest
1 tsp ice water
3/4 cup/125 g
almond halves
Method:
Sift the
flour and salt into a medium bowl. Beat the
butter and sugar in a large bowl with an
electric mixer at high speed until creamy.
Add the egg
and lemon zest, beating until just blended. Mix
in the dry ingredients to form a stiff dough.
Press the dough into a disk, wrap in plastic
wrap, and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
Preheat
the oven to 350°F/180°C/gas 4. Set out two
cookie sheets. Roll out the dough on a lightly
floured surface to a thickness of 1/4 inch (5
mm).
Use a sharp
knife to cut into 2 x 3-inch (4 x 8cm)
rectangles. Gather the dough scraps, re-roll,
and continue cutting out cookies until all the
dough is used.
Sprinkle the
cookies lightly with the water. Arrange the
almond halves on top of the cookies in a
diagonal line.
Use a spatula
to transfer the cookies to the cookie sheets,
placing them 1 inch (2.5 cm) apart.
Bake for
20-25 minutes, or until pale gold and firm to
the touch. Cool completely on the sheets.