A sweeter take on the old 'fruit and nut' snack option. This is one of those unbelievably easy, quick recipes that can be whipped up using store cupboard ingredients and whatever jams, curds, nut-butters or chocolate spread you have. It's all good. I've experimented with the method a lot; and have found that you can totally get away with throwing everything in a bowl and using an electric whisk or a stand-mixer until everything is combined. Life is complicated enough; it's nice to know that there's at least one thing that can make you happy with minimum effort, right?
* 2 cups of ground almond
* 1 cup of caster sugar
* 1 cup of butter (I soften this in a microwave for 10- 15 seconds to make it easier to combine)
* 2 eggs
* Zest of 1 orange
* 1 1/2 tablespoons of natural vanilla extract (yes, vanilla essence is cheaper, but its sickening, synthetic flavor will ruin your cookies)
* Pinch of salt
* Whatever jams you fancy! (I usually make a variety of flavors with each batch. Blueberry, apricot, raspberry...)
* Icing sugar, for dusting
Method:
Start with the dry ingredients, and then add in the butter, vanilla and eggs. Whisk together until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs. Take ping-pong ball size pieces, flatten lightly, and use your thumb to create a shallow pool in each cookie. You're going for a homemade, rustic vibe here- so don't freak out about any cracks or imperfections. Fill with jam, and bake on a greased cookie sheet for 15 minutes at 180 degrees Celsius. Wait until cooled until dusting with icing sugar or else the sugar will just dissolve. Enjoy! :)
Ingredients:
* 2 cups of sifted plain flour* 2 cups of ground almond
* 1 cup of caster sugar
* 1 cup of butter (I soften this in a microwave for 10- 15 seconds to make it easier to combine)
* 2 eggs
* Zest of 1 orange
* 1 1/2 tablespoons of natural vanilla extract (yes, vanilla essence is cheaper, but its sickening, synthetic flavor will ruin your cookies)
* Pinch of salt
* Whatever jams you fancy! (I usually make a variety of flavors with each batch. Blueberry, apricot, raspberry...)
* Icing sugar, for dusting
Method:
Start with the dry ingredients, and then add in the butter, vanilla and eggs. Whisk together until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs. Take ping-pong ball size pieces, flatten lightly, and use your thumb to create a shallow pool in each cookie. You're going for a homemade, rustic vibe here- so don't freak out about any cracks or imperfections. Fill with jam, and bake on a greased cookie sheet for 15 minutes at 180 degrees Celsius. Wait until cooled until dusting with icing sugar or else the sugar will just dissolve. Enjoy! :)
