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Monday 6 April 2009

Iced Shortbread Biscuits (Cookies)

I assume I am not alone in buying foodie magazines am I? I can guarantee I always find something to catch my eye and bookmark to make for a later date, but in my case I hardly ever seem to get around to it – tut –tut -tut! I must try in future to rectify this more because there are definitely some gorgeous bakes in those glossy pages. Well, I have kept to my word this time as I came across an article called “Baking with Dad” in the April issue of Sainsbury’s magazine which were all Easter treats. I spotted some gorgeous iced shortbread biscuits (cookies) in the shape of butterflies that are so very beautiful I just knew I had to try and recreate them, maybe I haven’t given them full justice they deserve but they were fun to make!




Iced Shortbread Biscuits

You can make these cookies up to 3 days ahead and store in an airtight container.

Makes about 16

Ingredients
150g (5 oz) butter, softened
75g (3 oz) light muscovado sugar
150g (5 oz) plain flour, plus extra for dusting
75g (3 oz) cornflour
Pinch of salt
I medium egg white
200g (7 oz) icing sugar, sifted
Red & yellow edible food colouring (optional)
You will also need
2 baking sheets lined with non-stick baking parchment
Easter cutters of choice

Method

Preheat the oven to 150°C/fan 130°C/300°F/Gas mark 2.

In a stand mixer, beat together the butter and sugar until pale and fluffy, add the flour, cornflour, pinch of salt and mix until it forms a ball. Roll out onto a lightly floured surface to 4mm (approx ¼ in) thick. Cut out shapes with cutters and reroll the dough as necessary. Using a plate knife or fish slice, put the shortbreads onto the baking sheets. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until lightly golden. Cool on a wire rack before icing.

For The Icing, lightly beat the egg whites, then gradually add the icing sugar and continue beating until it forms soft peaks. To decorate the shortbread, pipe an outline around each biscuit. Separate the icing into two bowls and add a few drops of edible food colouring to each. Stir in a little more water to make a runner icing for “flooding” consistency. Fill the centres of the biscuits with coloured icing and leave to set.

If you are feeling creative, keep a little of the white icing back to add details to the shapes once the coloured icing has set.

Note: this recipe contains raw egg whites.


Lastly, sit back in wonder of what delights you have created, and sample these heavenly creations.


42 comments:

Mary said...

these are so cute and so yummy!

Unknown said...

looks cute..lovely pictures..

Sweet Treats by Dani said...

how sweet :)

Rosa's Yummy Yums said...

What cute cookies! So dainty!

Have a great Easter!

Cheers,

Rosa

Rachel said...

They are so cute..love that you used pastel shades :)

Sara said...

Your cookies are just beautiful, very festive too!

Anonymous said...

looks cute Rosie..

Deeba PAB said...

I'm feeling very creative just looking at these beauties Rosie...well done indeed!

A_and_N said...

No you are not alone in buying foodie magazines...in fact we thought that we were the weirdos who boughht mags dedicated just to food and nothing else...but not anymore :)

And hats off on all the decoration with the colored icing. They look fantastic!!

Joanne said...

My favorite way to eat shortbread cookies is to dip them in tea. But yours are so cute, I don't think I could drown them like that! :(

Maria♥ said...

Rosie, I saw these in my Sainsburys magazine!! Yours look so cute and a lovely bake for Easter.

Maria
x

Amanda at Little Foodies said...

Beautiful! They're really cute and a great activity for kids. Have a lovely Easter. Hope your back stays healthy. xx

Donna said...

These are Beautiful!! Happy Easter to you Too!!!hughugs

Uma said...

aah, those cookies are too cute! Love that plate, so pretty! :) Have a great easter Rosie!

Caroline said...

I am loving the butterflies and the duck is cute, too! These cookies are perfect for Easter!

Hope you enjoy your Easter, Rosie!

Dewi said...

Wow Rosie, I think these are the prettiest cookies I've ever seen in my life. They are so adorable.
Cheers,
elra

Ivy said...

You are so talented Rosie. They look beautiful.

The Caked Crusader said...

What elegant biscuits - you've done a great job!

How To Eat A Cupcake said...

Aww I love the little duck! Quack! :D

Simones Kitchen said...

I too have a foodie magazine addiction and have stacks and stacks of them lying everywhere around the house. I am constantly reading and rereading them, but... there are so many it is just hard to do them all justice! I totally love your cookies! Seems the perfect easter cookie to make!

J.L. Danger said...

I buy them too, but sometimes over here they are just as expensive as full fledged cook books! I dont tell my husband about those!

farida said...

They are really cute, actually too cute to eat. :)

Cynthia said...

Let me tell you again how pretty your blog is... your blog is very pretty :)

Happy Easter to you and the family too.

Dragon said...

These cookies are perfection!

Ingrid_3Bs said...

Rosie your cookies look delightful!

Oh, boy if you only knew the amount of cookbooks and magazines that are floating all over my room and kitchen, yikes! Very sad that I hardly bake from them. Shh, don't tell my honey.
~ingrid

Bunny said...

You certainly did do them justice they're beautiful!!

Illona said...

Foodie books and magazines - can't get enough of them. Reading them is therapeutic for me. But *sigh* so many recipes, so little time.

The cookies are adorable! Thanks for sharing. Oh, thanks for visiting my blog too. It's nice when people drop by. Good to know your back's getting better.

Coleens Recipes said...

How adorable!!

Katiecakes said...

Oh they are adorable! Too cute to eat!

Katie xox

Chef Jeena said...

You sure did do them justice they are so pretty Rosie! :-)

Maria said...

SO cute and pretty! Love them!

Nic said...

Aww, cute! I don't know if I could bite that little duck's head off!!

Coffee and Vanilla said...

Rosie,

Those cookies are adorable!! :)
I have similar cutters: duck and butterfly and I was thinking to use them this Easter ;)

Have a nice day, Margot

Maria said...

Tasty and beautiful! My daugther would absolutely adore these!

Elyse said...

Mmm, these cookies look delicious and precious! How festive!

Katie said...

Beautifully decorated Rosie. Love the little ducks.

♥Rosie♥ said...

I am glad I'm not alone in my magazine buys *giggle* Thanks so much my'dear' friends for all your lovely comments on my iced cookies :0)

Happy Easter !

Rosie x

Maggie said...

These biscuits look really cute Rosie!

Cakelaw said...

These are adorable Rosie!!

Jerri at Simply Sweet Home said...

Rosie, these are so cute! And I love the cupcake plate you used here.

Snooky doodle said...

cute!

Raaga said...

Hope you had a good Easter.

Not just magazines... I keep buying cookbooks... hoping to do this and that... and I forget!!

These 3 Easter recipes are great.