Shortbread stars

Janelle Bloom shares an easy shortbread star recipe which will make the perfect Christmas gift.

Makes 32

Ingredients

250g butter, at room temperature

½ cup caster sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 cups plain flour, sifted

⅓ cup white sugar

2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

Method

1. Preheat oven to 160°C fan forced. Using an electric mixer, beat the butter, caster sugar and vanilla until pale and creamy. Add the flour and stir until the dough comes together. Turn onto a lightly floured surface and knead gently until smooth.

2. Cut the dough in half, press each piece of dough into a 2cm-thick round. Wrap in greaseproof paper and refrigerate until firm enough to roll out.

3. Roll the dough out until 1cm-thick. Using 5cm star cutters, cut biscuits out and place onto a tray lined with baking paper. Place the trays in the freezer and chill for 10 minutes until firm (this helps shortbread hold its shape while baking). Press any unused dough together, re-roll and repeat.

4. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until light golden.

5. Combine the white sugar and cinnamon. Remove the shortbread from the oven and stand for 5 minutes on trays. While hot, brush with water and sprinkle or toss in cinnamon sugar. Serve warm, or at room temperature.

Tip

Making your own cinnamon sugar is far cheaper than purchasing the premixed one from the supermarket. These stars are a great gift to give to kids' teachers.

Photo by Steve Brown