Almond and Pistachio Cookies

Ingredients

• 225 g butter, softened
• 140 g caster sugar
• 1 egg yolk, lightly beaten
• 2 teaspoons almond extract
• 225 g plain flour
• 55 g ground almonds
• 55 g pistachio nuts, finely chopped
• salt

Directions

1. 1

   Put the butter and sugar into a bowl and mix well with a wooden spoon, then beat in the egg yolk and almond extract. Sift together the flour and a pinch of salt into the mixture, add the ground almonds and stir until thoroughly combined. Halve the dough, shape into balls, wrap in clingfilm and chill in the refrigerator for 30-60 minutes.

2. 2

   Preheat the oven to190oC Gas Mark5. Line 2 baking sheets with baking parchment.

3. 3

   Unwrap the dough and roll out between 2 sheets of baking parchment to about 3mm thick, sprinkle with half of the chopped pistachios and roll lightly with the rolling pin. cut out cookies with a cutter and place on prepared baking sheet, spread well apart.

4. 4

   Bake for 10-12 minutes. Leave to cool on the baking sheets for 5-10 mins then using a palette knife, carefully transfer the cookies to wire racks to cool completely.