Pistachio And Orange Shortbread Hearts

It was Mrs Monday Bakers birthday recently so i decided to make her some biscuits as a present.I chose to make Jo Wheatleys 'Pistachio And Orange Shortbread Hearts'.I chose these for two reasons.One,they looked like they would be fairly easy to make,which they were.And,two,we were going to be away when it was her birthday so they needed to be something that was easily transportable.After i had made them i bought a fancy box from The Card Factory,put a tissue paper lining in turquoise in the box,and layed the biscuits inside.

 

Ingredients

60g unsalted shelled pistachios.
225g unsalted butter.
100g caster sugar.
225g plain flour.
60g semolina.
1 orange.

Recipe

1.Finely chop the pistachios.
2.Put the finely chopped pistachios into a mixing bowl.
3.Soften the butter and add to the mixing bowl.
4.Add the caster sugar to the mixing bowl.
5.Add the flour to the mixing bowl.
6.Add the semolina to the mixing bowl.
7.Rub the butter into the dry ingredients using your fingers.
8.Grate the zest of one orange and add to the mixture.
9.Work the ingredients until the mixture comes together.
10.Lightly flour your work surface and turn out your dough onto it.
11.Knead the dough very gently until it is smooth.
12.Shape the dough into a ball.
13.Flatten the ball into a disc.
14.Cover the disc in clingfilm and chill in the fridge for 30 minutes.
15.Lightly flour your work surface and roll your dough out to a thickness of about 4mm.
16.Line 2 baking trays with baking parchment.
17.Using heart shaped cutters,stamp out your biscuits and arrange them on your baking trays.
18.Gather any dough offcuts and roll out again to make more biscuits.
19.Chill the biscuits for a further 30 minutes.
20.Pre-heat your oven to 170 degrees c/325 degrees f/gas mark 3.
21.Bake the biscuits for about 15 - 20 minutes until very pale golden.
22.Remove the biscuits from the oven and sprinkle with caster sugar.
23.Transfer the biscuits to wire racks and leave to cool.

 

The Monday Baker