Vanillekipferl

These were supposed to be hazelnut and vanilla flavoured crescent biscuits, but I used ground almonds instead of hazelnuts and couldn't do crescent shapes! I made half the quantity and found it hard to use half an egg, so the dough was quite sticky and the biscuits were a little underdone.

• 350g plain flour, sifted
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 250g butter, softened
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 egg, beaten
• 100g caster sugar
• 50g ground hazelnuts/almonds
• pinch of salt (I didn't use)
• 100g icing sugar

1. Preheat the oven to 180C/350F/Gas mark 4.
2. Mix the flour, baking powder, butter, vanilla extract, egg, caster sugar, nuts and salt in a large bowl or food mixer (I creamed the butter and sugar and nuts, then added egg and vanilla, then flour).
3. Flatten into a round 2cm thick, cover with cling film and chill for 30 minutes.
4. Roll the dough into walnut sized balls and flatten slightly.
5. Place on a baking tray (you don't have to space them very much).
6. Bake for 10-15 minutes until pale golden and feel slightly firm (don't worry if they are soft, they will harden on cooling). Allow to stand.
7. Sift the icing sugar into a wide shallow bowl and toss the biscuits in the sugar.

(From "Bake" by Rachel Allen)