Walnut Shortbreads

Additional
Pre-heat the oven to gas mark 2, 300°F (150°C).

Equipment
You will also need a baking sheet, lightly greased, and a 1¾ inch (4.5 cm) cutter.

	2 oz (50 g) walnut pieces
	4 oz (110 g) salted butter, at room temperature
	2 oz (50 g) caster sugar
	6 oz (175 g) plain flour, sifted, plus a little extra for dusting
	2 oz (50 g) rice flour
	a little icing sugar for dusting

	1. The first thing you need to do is grind the walnuts, which you can do very carefully using the 'pulse' switch on a food processor (if this is overdone, the nuts go pasty and oily).
	2. Otherwise, a hand-held nut grinder will do the job. To make the shortbread, place the butter and sugar in a large mixing bowl and cream them together until pale and fluffy. Then mix the sifted flour and rice flour together and gradually work this into the creamed mixture, a tablespoonful at a time.
	3. Next, add the ground walnuts and use your hands to form the mixture into a smooth dough. Leave the dough to rest in a plastic food bag in the fridge for 30 minutes, then roll it out on a lightly floured work surface to a round approximately 8 inches (20 cm) in diameter.
	4. Now, using the 1¾ inch (4.5 cm) cutter, cut out approximately 20 rounds, re-rolling the trimmings. Place them on the lightly greased baking sheet and bake in the oven for 45 minutes. Cool them for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack. When completely cool, dust them with icing sugar and store in an airtight container.