Medvjeđe Šape (Bear Paws)

Ingredients:

360g plain flour
5g baking powder
200g caster sugar
115g walnuts, ground
250g unsalted butter
1 egg
2 tbsp linden (European lime) honey, depending on taste
1 tsp vanilla paste
Icing sugar, for dusting

Method:

Sift together the flour and baking powder into a large mixing bowl then stir in the ground walnuts and sugar.

Combine the wet ingredients: egg, honey, butter and vanilla in a jug. Form a well in the centre of the dry ingredients then pour in the wet ingredients.

Use your hands to mix the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients until everything comes together as a dough. Turn the dough out onto a floured work surface and knead until firm. Cover with clingfilm and set aside to rest for 20 minutes in a cool spot.

In the meantime, pre-heat your oven to 180°C. At the same time, prepare all your moulds by washing and drying. Wipe the insides with kitchen paper then lay out on your work surface. Grease the insides with oil, using kitchen paper and dust with flour. Invert and tap out the excess flour then turn back the right way up.

Once the dough has rested, take a small amount, roll into a ball and press gently into the mould. Fill the mould only 1/2 full at most as the baking powder will make the dough rise and you won’t be able to get it out.

Put the moulds into a broasting tin to hold them then transfer to the centre of your pre-heated oven and bake for around 15 minutes. Keep an eye on them during this time, because as soon as they start to colour, it’s pretty much time to take them out.

Take the biscuits out of the moulds while still hot, using a tea towel and gently pressing the moulds with a set of tongs to loosen the biscuit.

Some recipes say to toss them in icing sugar, but alternatively you can just give them a dusting on top. They are often served with icing sugar so that those with a sweet tooth can add more.