VANILLA FREEZER BISCUITS (COOKIES) (WITH VARIATIONS)

Steps:

• Scrape seeds from vanilla bean (they advise you discard the bean but stick it in a canister of sugar and you will soon have vanilla sugar).
• Beat butter, sugar and bean seeds until pale and creamy using an electric mixer.
• Add egg and beat until combined.
• Sift flour over butter mixture and use a wooden spoon, stir to combine.
• Place dough on a lightly floured surface and divide in half.
• Using hands shape each half in a 30cm long log.
• Wrap each log in baking paper, twirling ends to seal.
• Freeze for 2 hours or until firm.
• Remove logs from freezer 15 minutes before slicing.
• Preheat oven to 180 degree C (160 C for fan forced).
• Line 2 baking trays with baking paper.
• Remove paper from logs and slice into 1.5cm thick rounds.
• Place rounds, 3cm apart on prepared trays.
• Bake for 12 to 14 minutes or until light golden colour.
• Cool on trays for 5 minutes and transfer to wire rack to cool completely.
• Dust with icing sugar and serve.
• You can leave logs in freezer for up to 2 months, thaw for 1 hour before slicing and baking.
• VARIATIONS.
• Chocolate chips - Stir 1/2 cup chopped dark chocolate chips at the end of step 4.
• Pistachio - Stir in 2/3 cups of roughly chopped pistachio kernels at the end of step 4.
• Citrus - Add 1 tablespoon finely grated lemon or orange rind with vanilla bean seeds in step 2.