Macadamia Shortbread Trees

Step 1

Step 1 Place butter into the bowl of an electric mixer. Beat until smooth, slowly adding the icing sugar and mixing in well. Step 2 Add the flours and baking powder gradually, until all incorporated. Fold in macadamias. Remove to a lightly floured surface and bring together with your hands. Roll out to ½ cm thickness and use various sized star shaped cutters to cut shapes and place onto lined oven trays. Refrigerate for at least 20 minutes. Step 3 Pre-heat oven to 170°C (150°C fan-forced). Place trays of shortbread into the oven and bake for 20 minutes, or until just golden underneath. Allow to cool for 5 minutes on trays before removing to a wire rack to cool completely. Step 4 Place chocolate into a heat proof bowl and microwave at 50% for 30 seconds. Stir and continue in 15 second bursts until all melted and smooth. Dip cooled shortbread star tips into chocolate, sprinkle with coconut and allow to set on a wire rack. Step 5 To assemble trees, you may need to reheat chocolate gently. Using larger stars as the base layer, place a dollop of chocolate in the centre and place another star on top, continue with another 6-7 stars, gradually finishing with the smallest sized star at the top. Repeat with remaining stars.

Step 2

Step 1 Place butter into the bowl of an electric mixer. Beat until smooth, slowly adding the icing sugar and mixing in well. Step 2 Add the flours and baking powder gradually, until all incorporated. Fold in macadamias. Remove to a lightly floured surface and bring together with your hands. Roll out to ½ cm thickness and use various sized star shaped cutters to cut shapes and place onto lined oven trays. Refrigerate for at least 20 minutes. Step 3 Pre-heat oven to 170°C (150°C fan-forced). Place trays of shortbread into the oven and bake for 20 minutes, or until just golden underneath. Allow to cool for 5 minutes on trays before removing to a wire rack to cool completely. Step 4 Place chocolate into a heat proof bowl and microwave at 50% for 30 seconds. Stir and continue in 15 second bursts until all melted and smooth. Dip cooled shortbread star tips into chocolate, sprinkle with coconut and allow to set on a wire rack. Step 5 To assemble trees, you may need to reheat chocolate gently. Using larger stars as the base layer, place a dollop of chocolate in the centre and place another star on top, continue with another 6-7 stars, gradually finishing with the smallest sized star at the top. Repeat with remaining stars.