THE VERY BEST OAT BISCUITS

The name says it all – these really are the very best you’ll ever taste. This is a wonderful base recipe that offers so many possibilities. What about white chocolate, macadamia nuts and cranberries? Or think rich, warm flavours like orange and spices. In fact, why not give them all a try? Makes about 40 biscuits

Base recipe

• 150g butter

• 125g white sugar

• 125g brown sugar

• seeds of 1 vanilla pod or 5ml vanilla essence or extract

• 1 egg

• 150g cake flour

• 5ml baking powder

• 2ml salt

• 150g oats

Equipment

• electric mixer • baking trays lined with

baking paper 1. Preheat the oven to 180˚C. 2. Using an electric mixer, cream the butter and all the sugar together until light and creamy. Add the vanilla seeds, essence or extract and mix well. Whisk in the egg.

3. Sift the cake flour, baking powder and salt together. Add this mixture, as well as the oats, to the sugar mixture and mix well. Add whatever variation you want [see opposite page] and mix well. You can add up to 300g of the ingredients you choose to the base recipe.

4. Spoon tablespoons of the dough, shape into balls and place on a baking tray lined with baking paper, about 5cm apart. Press on the balls to flatten them slightly.

5. Bake for 12–15 minutes. Rotate the baking trays after the first 8 minutes. ✤