So it's about time I shared some recipes!
Instead of giving my mum a present this year I'm making her an edible Christmas centrepiece to decorate her festive table. She's really excited after seeing my first attempt and is now themeing her entire table around the centrepiece... I really can't blame her, look at it!
White Chocolate and Cranberry Shortbread Christmas Tree
Ingredients :
- 250g room temperature butter
- 3/4 cup icing sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla essence
- 2 cups plain flour
- 1/2 cup dried cranberries (craisins), chopped
- 100g white chocolate, chopped
- Cachous or mini MMs for decorating
Method:
- Cream butter, sugar and vanilla with an electric beater (or with a hand beater if you want to look like The Hulk afterwards)
- Stir in the flour, craisins and chocolate
- Pull dough together (it will be very crumbly), cover with clingwrap and place in fridge for an hour to firm
- Roll out between two sheets of baking paper and using nested star cookie cutters, create a bunch of stars
- Place in oven at 160C for 15 minutes - although it depends how thick you've rolled the dough
Once they're completely cool you can use royal icing to create your tree - start by placing a few dabs of icing on the base of the largest star and sticking it to your board/plate so that it doesn't slide off. Then turn each star 45 degrees from the last and place a little dab in the centre to hold it in place.
If you happen to drop one of the cookies like I did, don't panic, just use icing to glue each piece down, you won't be able to tell when the next layer goes on top.
Place your cachous or MMs on as you go, while the icing is wet, so they stick.
My first attempt was a little wonky, but with the combination of cranberries and white chocolate it still tasted amazing!
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I have one of those molds! Aaaaaand I've never used it. Der.
ReplyDeleteOmmy nom nom!!
ReplyDeleteWow looks great hon!
ReplyDeleteDamn you! Now I have to go try this! Unless of course you just managed to whip up an extra one that I could claim as my own? No? Didn't think so, heh.
ReplyDeleteyou do realise that you're showing all the traits of becoming a food blogger, don't you? you should start baking classes.
ReplyDelete~x~
yum yum - now where can I get the nested stars
ReplyDeleteone of the few times you'd happily go last when it comes to taking a biscuit - assuming people politely start from the top and you've counted thoroughly first
ReplyDeleteWhat a truly wonderful idea! I will definitely give this a whirl after a few glasses of port, might do it with the kids. They will love it. Happy Christmas darling!
ReplyDeleteI'm handing the 'Homemaker' title over to you, baby! They look amazeballs x
ReplyDelete