Cinnamon Almond Shortbread Pear
On the first day of christmas my true love gave to me a partridge in a pear tree.... these shortbread pears remind me of the 12 days of christmas song. i was given something similar to these for christmas and the whole family really enjoyed them so i wanted to tried to make them myself and here is what i came up with.. These are prefect for gifts not only christmas time. It's also my families tradition to serve shortbread biscuits to visitors who go to visit a new born baby, these would be ideal.
Steps
Preheat oven to 150c / 300of / mark2.
Line oven trays with baking parchment and put the tray in the oven.
In a large bowl sifted flour , cinnamon and almond meal.
Mix well.
Set aside.
In another bowl beat butter , caster sugar and vanilla essence until light and creamy.
Combine flour mixture and butter mixture , to form a dough.
Roll the mixture into a large plum size or walnut sized balls and then shape each ball into a pear.
Place the base of the clove on the top of the pear to the form the core.
Place the pears on hot tray and bake in the oven for 12 minutes or until pale golden.
Remove tray and allow pears to stand on trays for 10 minutes before transferring to wire rack to cool.
Dust lightly with icing sugar.
Store.
Ingredients
unsalted butter, caster sugar, vanilla essence, plain flour, ground cinnamon, almond meal, whole cloves, icing sugar