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Food

13th Dec 2020

This recipe for Hazelnut Shortbread Biscuits is the perfect treat for Santa

Melissa Carton

Sounds delish.

My Wild Atlantic Kitchen: Recipes and Recollections, is a compilation of the favourite recipes of acclaimed chef, Maura O’Connell Foley, has won two awards at the Gourmand World Cookbook Awards, Best Book of the Year in Ireland and Best Book by a Woman Chef in Ireland.

Maura has shared her Hazelnut Shortbread Biscuits with us ahead of Christmas as it perfect for baking with the kids for Santa’s treat.

Ingredients

• 100g caster sugar
• 100g light muscovado sugar
• 450g butter
• 285g plain white flour
• 285g stoneground
wholemeal flour
• 55g hazelnuts, toasted and roughly chopped.

Method

Preheat the oven to fan 160°C / fan 325°F / gas mark 4.
Line a large baking tray with baking paper.

Using an electric mixer, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Reduce the mixer to a medium speed and gradually add in the flour, mixing until smooth. Then fold in the hazelnuts.

Lightly flour the work surface to roll out the dough. For rectangle or triangle shaped biscuits, roll out the dough into a rectangle shape (around 25x20cm / 10x8in) to a thickness of 1cm / ½in. Chill in the fridge for 30 minutes or 10 minutes in the freezer; this will help with cutting the biscuits. Cut the rectangle into smaller rectangles or triangles. Alternatively, for round biscuits, roll the dough into a large sausage shape, chill, then cut round biscuits off the log, around 1cm / ½in thick.

Place the shaped dough on the baking tray and prick once or twice with a fork. Bake in the oven for 10-12 minutes or until lightly golden in colour. Store in an airtight container for up to 1 week.