Shortbread Witch's Fingers
An original recipe by Lorraine Elliott
Preparation time:
Cooking time:
Makes 24 Witches Fingers
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200g/7ozs unsalted best quality butter, at room temperature
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1/2 cup caster sugar
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1 1/3 cups/200g/7ozs plain flour
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3/4 cup/135g/4.7ozs rice flour
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tiny pinch of salt
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a few drops of almond essence (optional)
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Green food colouring
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Natural almonds
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Red food colouring in a tube
Step 1 - Preheat the oven to 190C/375F. Line two baking trays with parchment. First blanch your almonds by placing them in a small saucepan of boiling water for 2 minutes and then removing them and running cold water over them. The skins should slip off easily (if not, put them in the hot water for another minute). Dry on a paper towel and set aside. In the bowl of an electric mixer, cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Add in colouring and essence and beat until combined.
Step 2 - In another bowl, mix both flours together with salt until combined and then fold into butter and sugar mixture. You may need to knead it slightly so that it comes together. This is the fun bit. Grab a small handful and shape it into a log shape. These do not spread much so you don't need huge gaps between them but you do needs gaps. Repeat with the rest of the dough. Pinch some areas to make the fingers knobbly and emphasising the knuckles. Place one of the blanched almonds as the nail. Get a butter knife and draw in lines on the knuckles. At the end of the "finger" make an indentation as shown so that it looks more like a severed finger bone (I never thought I'd ever write that sentance on this blog!).
Step 3 - Bake at 190c/375F for 5 minutes, then reduce the oven temperature to 160c/315F for a further 10-15 minutes until ever so slightly browned. As soon as they are out, pipe some red food colouring on the ends of the fingers as if they were bloody when ripped off. Then while they are still very hot, carefully lift an almond and draw a pattern of blood in the outline of the nail and press the almond down again to secure. As they are delicate, wait until they are completely cool before removing them from the tray. Get severed head and place beside thee for a truly spooky experience. Cackle loudly.