Almond Crescent Biscuits

These are my absolute fave, I love almonds, and these crescents really are awesome, very light and melt in the mouth. So heres the recipe to share with everyone to enjoy!

125g Butter (at room temperature)

1/4 cup icing sugar (sifted)

1/2 tsp almond essence

1/4 cup cornflour

1/2tsp baking powder

1/2 cup finely chopped/ground almonds

Plain flour as required

This makes around 30 biscuits

Preheat oven to gas mark 4/180C

Cream the butter (you can use margarine), and sugar till light and pale in colour. Add the almond essence, mix well, add remaining ingredients and combine to a soft dough. The dough should be soft, if its sticky than dust with flour. Wrap in cling film and leave in the refrigerator for 30mins untill firm.

Form into crescent shapes, place on greased trays and bake in moderate oven. Remove from oven and leave to cool, dust with icing sugar to finish, serve.

Store in an airtight container, possible with foil to keep fresh, will keep for 7 days.

Apologies my pics arent the best, I took them in the evening, and the light wasnt great....working on my photography skills at the same time ;)

More Biscuits

I carried on baking as the oven was still hot...as you do. Slightly varied biscuits, but nonetheless tasty and yummy, just as easy and quick to make!

PISTACHIO SLICES

125g margarine (at room temperature)

1/2 cup icing sugar, sifted (keep this just under 1/2 cup)

1 tsp vanilla essence

1/4 cup Cornflour

1/2 cup chopped pistachios

Plain flour as required


First cream the margarine and sugar till pale in colour (you can use butter, but margarine gives the same result and is less fattening).
Add vanilla essence and mix well.
Add remaining ingredients, add flour as required.

Combine the mixture well, bringing it all together, shape in the form of a rectangle, that will allow you to slice. Wrap in cling film and leave in the refrigerator for 30mins. Remove and slice into 2 inch thick peices.
Bake in a moderate oven for 30 mins or until slices turn slightly golden in colour.

Holiday Baking

Loving the break, and been baking some of my fave biscuits - ones that are tasty, not high in calories, that dont leave you with the guilt :), for all to enjoy. Im gonna share them with you - these are easy to make, quick and fun!

This is the basic recipe which allows you to mould and get creative with your biscuits.






1 Cup Margarine (at room temperature)
1 Cup Plain Flour

Pinch salt
1/2 tsp Baking Powder

1/2 Cup Icing sugar
1 Cup Cornflour
This makes around 30 biscuits

1. Preheat the oven to gas mark 4/180C, grease 3 baking trays
2. Beat the sugar and margarine till pale in colour, you can do this with a wooden spoon, you dont need an electric mixer.
3. Sift all the dry ingredients and add to the creamed mixture. Using your hands blend all ingredients together till combined. Mixture should be soft, if sticky add a dusting of flour.
4. Divide the mixture into 3 parts, take 2 parts and roll out to 2 inch thickness. Using a cookie cutter, I have used a flower and other shapes, cut out the shapes and place on greased trays. Place these in the oven and bake for 20-25 minutes or untill they start turning golden in colour.
5. Lastly roll out the rest of dough and using a nozzle press the dough through to create florets onto the baking tray. Bake in moderate oven for 20-25 mins.
6. Once baked, remove from oven and let them cool. Decorate as desired, I have used chocolate and silver sweets. Enjoy!

The aroma, the flavours, the tastes, the shapes and sizes - Im talking about baking! Didnt think it could be so varied? Neither did I. Its fun, always a new result, and new creations wether its cakes or biscuuits or pastries, sweet and savoury - this is already playing with my palette :)
I hope to share a few of my recipes with all here, those that have always wanted to try their hand at baking, and those that do so on a regular basis, by sharing my simple to do recipes, that will produce a result every time you want to bake for any occasion, to share with friends and family and get all the compliments you waited for!! With lots of hints and tips!
Keep following my blogs and watching this space - let me entertain you!