It’s time to start the Christmas cooking, shortbread is great to pop out on the table at a gathering or to package up as gifts over the festive season.

You’ll need:

• 500gm softened unsalted butter
• 1 ¼ cups caster sugar
• 1 1/3 cups rice flour
• 3 2/3 cups all-purpose flour

Here’s what to do:

• Preheat oven to 160 degrees C.
• Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy, 5-7 minutes. Combine flours; gradually beat into creamed mixture.
• Spoon balls of dough and roll into balls. Press onto a lined tray with a fork for decoration or use Christmas decorating tool to decorate. Space biscuits approx. 5 cm apart on tray.
• Bake until lightly browned approx. 40 minutes. Cool completely on a wire rack.
• Dust with icing sugar to make them look extra Christmassy when serving up to guests.

Makes approx. 2 doz