Val McDermid’s Sunday Shortbread for Mary’s Meals

Mary’s Meals is asking people across the UK to take part in its baking fundraiser, Raise Some Dough. The charity has launched a free fundraising pack including everything you “knead” to get started – including an exclusive digital book including tasty recipes from a range of UK celebrities! Why not try this simple recipe for a tasty, homemade treat at your next bake sale?

You’ll need:

For shortbread:

◆ 140g unsalted butter, softened

◆ 60g golden caster sugar

◆ 180g plain flour, sifted

◆ 20g ground rice

◆ ½tsp ground cinnamon

◆ ½tsp ground nutmeg

◆ ½tsp ground cardamom (or you can just use 1½tsp mixed spice)

1

Preheat the oven to 180°C/gas mark 4. Line a Swiss roll tin (roughly 30cm x 20cm) with baking paper.

2

Cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Mix the flour, ground rice and spices evenly. Fold this dry mixture into the creamed butter mix until it resembles breadcrumbs.

3

Tip the shortbread mixture into the tin and press flat. Bake until it’s pale golden (about 15min).

For the salted caramel:

◆ 1 x 397g can condensed milk

◆ 150g unsalted butter

◆ 2tbsp golden syrup

◆ A few drops of vanilla extract

◆ ½tsp sea salt flakes For the topping:

◆ 250g dark chocolate (or milk if

you prefer, broken into pieces)

◆ A pinch of salt flakes

4

While it’s cooling, put the condensed milk, butter, golden syrup, vanilla extract and salt into a pan. Stir continuously until it boils. then let it simmer. Keep stirring till it changes colour to caramel and starts to thicken. That should take about 5min, maybe a few minutes longer. Let it cool a little, then pour it over the shortbread.

5

While the caramel is cooling on the shortbread, melt the chocolate and salt in a bowl over a pan of simmering water. Then pour the melted chocolate over the caramel shortbread and leave it to set in the fridge for a couple of hours. Slice into bars.

6

You can store them in an airtight container if you must, but they generally don’t survive for very long in our house.

For more information, please visit

marysmeals.org.uk/raise