Recipe Tip: Spiced Seville orange shortbread with vanilla sugar

Instructions

1. Step 1

   Pre-heat the oven to 180°C/160° fan, 350°F, gas mark 4. Line a large, shallow baking tray with baking parchment.

2. Step 2

   Crush the cardamom pods in a pestle and mortar, discarding outer skins so you are left with the small seeds. Add the fennel seeds and crush everything to a fragrant powder.

3. Step 3

   Cream together the butter and caster sugar until light and fluffy. This takes a couple of minutes with a stand or hand-held mixer, by which time the mixture should be slightly lighter in colour and more mousse like.

4. Step 4

   With the mixer still going, add the orange zest, crushed spices and salt.

5. Step 5

   Once mixed, and add the flour in three tranches, mixing carefully with a wooden spoon after each addition. Add the orange juice as you go. Make sure the flour is thoroughly incorporated, but do not over work the dough.

6. Step 6

   Now go in with your hands and form into a rough ball. Again, be gentle. The dough will seem too crumbly but have faith! This crumbliness will result in the crisp lightness of the finished biscuit.

7. Step 7

   Place your dough between two sheets of baking parchment and roll out to a thickness of approx. 0.5 cms (thinner will result in a crisper snap, not unpleasing but less like classic shortbread; thicker risks dismal doughiness).

8. Step 8

   Using a small cutter, 5 or 6cm is ideal, cut out your biscuits and transfer lovingly to the waiting baking tray (the biscuits don’t spread, so don’t worry about leaving too much space between them). You are aiming for 25-30 biscuits. Re-form a dough from any scraps and you might manage another couple.

9. Step 9

   Bake for 15 minutes. Check after 12 mins to allow for variations in thickness and oven heat – you are aiming for light golden brown, but don’t worry overly if they are slightly darker at the edge.

10. Step 10

    Remove the oven and sprinkle generously with vanilla sugar whilst still hot.

11. Step 11

    Transfer to a wire rack to cool for as long as you can restrain yourself.

12. Step 12

    Scoff wantonly and crumbly-ly, with a cup of steaming tea (and scant regard for correct English).