Christmas Shorties

Festive chocolate shortbread-style cookies with a delicate crumb from semolina, topped with whole almonds or cherries for a classic seasonal touch.

Oven Temp: 180°C

Bake Time: 12–15 min

Ingredients

  • 170 g Plain flour
  • 30 g Cocoa powder
  • 30 g Semolina
  • 130 g Butter
  • 2 ml Vanilla extract
  • 120 g Caster sugar
  • as needed Whole almonds or glacé cherries (for decorating)

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 180°C and line a baking tray with parchment paper.
  2. In a mixing bowl, cream together the butter and caster sugar until light and fluffy.
  3. Mix in the vanilla extract.
  4. Sift in the plain flour, cocoa powder, and semolina, and stir until a soft dough forms.
  5. Roll out the dough on a floured surface to approximately ½ cm thickness.
  6. Cut out rounds using a biscuit cutter or the rim of a glass.
  7. Place onto the prepared baking tray and top each biscuit with a whole almond or a glacé cherry.
  8. Bake for 12–15 minutes until set but not browned.
  9. Cool on the tray for a few minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

Category: Biscuits

Servings: Makes approximately 20 shorties

2025