Classic Shortbread Biscuits and Dr Oetker

 

It's Mother's Day (Or Mothering Sunday as it is called here in the UK) in just a few short weeks now.   Here in the UK it is celebrated on the fourth Sunday after Lent and so this year it is on the 30th of March.

I was recently sent a package of baking goodies from the people at Dr Oetker to help me do something special for this holiday.   I love to bake and I admit, I love Dr Oetker baking goodies!



They have a beautiful line of ingredients to help the modern baker make the prettiest and tastiest biscuits, cakes and other baked goodies, including everything from the basic ingredients such as Baking Powder and Baking Soda . . .  to candles,  flavourings, icing gels, chocolate chips, cake sprinkles and sparkles, rice paper decorations . . . in short just about everything under the sun.   And I have to confess that anything I have ever used of theirs has been exceptional.   I haven't had anything yet that I didn't like or use, or that didn't live up to or exceed my expectations.



I quite simply have not had the time to use all the things that they sent me this time, but I did make good use of some of the decorations, such as these tasty milk and white chocolate hearts.  I used them to decorate little bite sized classic Shortbread biscuits which I had iced with a vanilla buttercream icing.

 

The chocolate hearts come in their own little plastic mold, which I thought was really great as it helped to keep them from breaking.  They taste good too, and don't they look sweet decorating these biscuits?



These edible rice wafer daisies are such pretty little posies and looked beautiful on some of the biscuits.

 

As did these edible wafer butterflies.   They look like they are ready to take flight don't they?   They just pop right out and onto whatever you are wanting to put them on with ease.



And of course these little candy butterflies are just so sweet and colourful, and dainty too.
Altogether they made for a very pretty tray of cookies I think.

*Classic Shortbread Biscuits*
Makes 12 to 18

Printable Recipe  

It doesn't have to be a special occasion to make these simple biscuits, but they have a way of making any day a special occasion when these are on the plate! Simple, simple .  .  . yes they are, but you can dress them up too, with a bit of icing and some sprinkles if you so desire, or cut them into different shapes.

225g of unsalted butter, softened (1 cup)

127g of caster sugar (2/3 cup)

1/4 tsp salt

350g of plain flour (2 1/2 cups)

Preheat the oven to 180*C/350*F/ gas mark 4.   Stack two baking sheets together and line the top one with baking paper.   Set aside.

Put the butter, sugar and salt into a mixing bowl and cream together with an electric whisk until fluffy.  Stir in the flour to make a stiff dough.  Tip out onto a lightly floured surfae and knead lightly to make a smooth dough.  Wrap and chill for 15 minutes.

Roll the dough out to 1/2 inch thickness on a lightly floured surface with a lightly floured rolling pin.   Cut into rounds with a 2 inch cookie cutter.   Prick gently with a fork.  Place 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheet.  Place into the oven and immediately lower the temperature to 160*C/325*F/ gas mark3.


Bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until lightly coloured at the edges and on the bottom.  Check to make sure they aren't browning too quickly.  If they are lower the oven temperature a bit more.  Carefully scoop off to cool completely on a wire rack before decorating or not as you wish.




All of the Dr Oetker baking helps are sold in most grocery shops here in the UK, in the baking sections and you can also find them at Hobby Craft.   They are also available in their online shop.  

Their webpage and shop:   Dr.Oetker

Thanks very much to Dr Oetker for sending me these goodies!