Baked Christmas goodies

Spoil family and friends with delicious treats baked with love and wrapped for the occasion

CHERRY COCONUT BISCUITS

To make coconut biscuits festive, top them with red and green glacé cherries.

MAKES 26 BISCUITS PREPARATION: 30 MIN CHILLING: 30 MIN BAKING: 12-15 MIN

125g soft butter or margarine 180ml (¾c) light brown sugar 1 egg 5ml (1t) vanilla essence 250ml (1c) desiccated coconut 125ml (½c) desiccated coconut flakes 250ml (1c) flour 1,2ml (¼t) bicarbonate of soda 1,2ml (¼t) baking powder extra flour for sprinkling TO FINISH 8-10 glacé cherries, cut into slivers (optional)

Preheat the oven to 160°C. Line two large baking sheets with baking paper. 1 Put the butter or margarine and sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer and mix until creamy. 2 Add the egg and vanilla essence and mix until well combined. 3 Add the rest of the ingredients except the extra flour and mix lightly. Shape the dough into a ball, cover in clingfilm and chill for at least 30 minutes. 4 Generously sprinkle flour on a work surface and roll out the dough to 3mm thick. Use a cookie cutter to cut shapes of your choice. Arrange the shapes slightly apart on the prepared baking sheets. 5 To finish Push a sliver of glacé cherry (if using) onto the middle of each biscuit. Bake for 12-15 minutes or until golden brown. 6 Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely, then store in an airtight container.