Christmas stars

This is the traditional gift that we bake and give to our neighbours around Christmas time. It's a combination of plain shortbread and some spicy biscuits cut into variously sized stars. Then we wrap it in some pretty cellophane and tie the bundle up with a ribbon. Recipes are oldies-but-goodies out of the Edmonds cookbook (shortbread) and Alison Holst's big red book (spicy biscuits).

Shortbread
(to be inserted once I find my Edmonds cookbook again!)

Spicy butter biscuits
225 g butter
1 c brown sugar
1 egg
2 c flour
2 Tbsp cinnamon
1 Tbsp mixed spice

Cream softened (but not melted) butter in the mixer. Add remaining ingredients, mix to combine, then form into a roll 70 mm thick. Roll in plastic and refrigerate until firm.

Roll mixture out on floured bench and cut into desired shapes (like stars!) using cookie cutters. Bake at 180 degrees Celcius for 8-10 minutes until biscuits darken slightly. When cool, transfer from tray to an airtight container.