Engagement Celebration Biscuits

The excitement when someone close to you gets engaged in infectious. It's uplifting to see someone so elated and fun to plan and think about all the exciting things that lie ahead. Last weekend I received a heart warming text from a friend sharing those great words 'We got engaged' and it really lifted my spirits. Once I got over the initial excitement of it all I was keen to make something memorable in the kitchen to mark the special occasion. I toyed with the idea of intricately decorated cupcakes or a masterpiece of a cake, but given that whatever tasty treat I was going to conjure up would be brought to work on Monday I reckoned I should make something simple that people wouldn't feel too guilty about eating after the weekend! I settled for this delicious sugar cookie recipe which is one of my favourite biscuits of all time. Lighter than shortbread, with a fantastic texture, these biscuits really have it all. I opted for single hearts, double hearts and the all important engagement ring.

Engagement Celebration Biscuits

Ingredients                                                                  
200g butter at room temperature                                
280g sugar                                                                   
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract                                          
1 egg                                                                              
400g plain flour
a pinch of salt

Method 

1. Put the butter, sugar and vanilla extract in a free-standing electric mixer and cream until light 

    and fluffy (You can also use a handheld whisk). 

2. Add the egg and mix well, scraping the sides of the bowl intermittently to ensure all the ingredients

    are incorporated well. 

3. Add the flour and salt, mixing well. The dough should look light, feel soft and be easy to handle.

    Dust a clean surface with flour and roll out the dough using a rolling pin. Cut out the shapes of 

    your choice ( I chose these heart and engagement rings). Place the cookies on a well greased or 

    lined baking tray (you will need at least two large trays) and using the individual stamps, firmly 

    press the desired letters into the dough. Bake for 10 minutes at 170C.  

4. The cookies should be very light golden on the outer edges and paler in the centre. Once cooked 

    remove the cookies from the oven and place on a wire rack to cool.

E-D's Notes

- This type of rubber stamp set can be picked up in any good craft

   shop or online. Both Amazon and Etsy sell similar products. This pack cost me €11.50 in a local         art shop. Stamps are a great way of personalizing your bake and can of be used similarly to print 

   into fondant icing.

- Removing the biscuits from the tray as quickly as possible will 

  prevent breakages as the biscuits begin to harden.

- The engagement ring cutter was bought in STOCK in Dublin's 

  city centre but is also available here online.