As we creep ever closer to Christmas ( only 1 week to go!) the last place anyone wants to be is at the shops. I went yesterday so I can tell you. It’s exhausting, you loose focus and come home with less than you thought you would, having spent more than you planned. With this in mind I am now working on my last minute food gifts, the sort of thing you can whip up in minimal time and wrap in a nice box or some cellophane to mean visiting the shops is no longer essential. Alternatively everything I make will be great to just keep around the house to serve to those unexpected guests that drop in over the festive season.
Sounds perfect brilliant doesn’t it! Well quit your yapping and let’s get on with it.
First up Bacci Di Dama
These beauties fit the bill 100% – they are delicious, so simple and look very sweet!
Ingredients
2oz plain flour
2oz ground almonds
¼ tsp salt
4oz butter + 1/2 tablespoon for filling
3oz caster sugar
dash of almond extract – not essential but will make them extra almondy
1oz dark and milk chocolate
Method
- Preheat your oven to 180C
- Sift flour and ground almonds into a mixing bowl and add the salt
- Cream butter ( except tablespoon for filling) in a bowl and then add in the sugar
- Add in your almond extract if you are using and mix
- Add your flour and ground almond mix into your butter mixture bit by bit until you create a dough
- Line a baking tray with greaseproof paper
- Take about ½tsp of dough and roll into a ball (you may need to flour your hands to do this- so the mixture doesn’t stick) place on the baking sheet gently pressing on the top to flatten slightly and repeat until you have a even number of balls
- Bake in the oven for about 12 mins
- Remove from the oven and allow to cool
- In a double boiler melt your chocolate. Remove from heat and add 1/2tbsp butter and combine
- Then dab a small amount of chocolate on the bottom of a cookie and then sandwich together with other cookie. Continue until all your cookies are done.
See I told you it was very simple. Not only do these delights taste yummy they also look great. Which when you are giving last minute presents is just what you need. So far mine haven’t made it into a cellophane wrapping – for some reason they keep on getting lost in my stomach. Oh well I will just have to make another batch!
If you want more last minute present ideas or some great Christmas recipes why not check out Christmas From Scratch? You can download a free sample here.