Ingredients:
100g flaked almonds
110g butter, softened
110g caster sugar
1 large egg, beaten with 2 tsp water
1 tsp vanilla extract
275g plain flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
pinch of salt
Method:
Cream together the butter and sugar in a bowl until pale and fluffy. Beat together the egg and water with the vanilla extract then add a little at a time to the creamed butter, beating thoroughly to incorporate after each addition.
Sift in the flour, baking soda and salt then stir with a wooden spoon to bring the ingredients together as a soft dough. Wrap the dough in clingfilm and chill in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.
Turn the chilled dough onto a lightly-floured work surface and roll out to about 5mm thick then cut into Christmas tree shapes. Transfer these to a lightly-greased baking tray then re-roll the scraps and cut out more shapes. Press the flaked almonds into the dough then transfer to an oven pre-heated to 180°C and bake for about 10 minutes, or until the biscuits are pale golden in colour.
Remove from the oven and allow to cool on the baking tray for 1 minute before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely. If desired, decorate the biscuits with icing, silver balls, jellied oranges and lemons.
