Monte Carlo Cookies!

Perfect for a special occasion to wow your friends or just for a treat!

Ingredients

• For the cookies:
• 225g plain flour
• 175g butter or margarine
• 130g caster sugar
• 1 egg yolk, beaten
• 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
• for the filling:
• 55 butter or margarine
• 90g icing sugar
• 4 tablespoons strawberry jam

Instructions

STEP 1:

For the cookies

STEP 2:

1) put the flour into a large mixing bowl and rub in the butter until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs. Add sugar, egg yolk and vanilla and mix to form a dough.

STEP 3:

2) knead the dough lightly on a floured work surface until smooth. Shape dough into a ball, wrap in cling film and chill in the fridge for 30 minutes.

STEP 4:

3) heat the oven to 180 degrees celsius. Grease two baking sheets.

STEP 5:

4) roll out the dough on a flour surface until approximately 5mm thick, then cut into rounds with a 6cm cookie cutter.

STEP 6:

5) place cookies on baking sheets and bake for 12-15 minutes until pale golden. Cool for a few minutes on baking sheets then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

STEP 7:

STEP 8:

for the filling:

STEP 9:

1) beat the butter until soft and then beat in the icing sugar.

STEP 10:

2) spread a little jam on half of the cookies, then place a small blob of the icing on top. Gently press the remaining cookies on top.

STEP 11:

3) sift over a little icing sugar to finish!