Iced biscuits

Ingredients 100g/3½oz unsalted butter, softened at room temperature 100g/3½oz caster sugar 1 free-range egg, lightly beaten 275g/10oz plain flour 1 tsp vanilla extract To decorate 400g/14oz icing sugar 3-4 tbsp water 2-3 drops food colourings Preparation method Preheat the oven to 190C/375F/Gas 5. Line a baking tray with greaseproof paper. Cream the butter and sugar together in a bowl until combined. Technique: Creaming butter by hand Creaming butter by handWatch technique0:50 mins Beat in the egg and vanilla extract, a little at a time, until well combined. Stir in the flour until the mixture comes together as a dough. Roll the dough out on a lightly floured work surface to a thickness of 1cm/½in. Using biscuit cutters, cut biscuits out of the dough and carefully place onto the baking tray. Bake the biscuits for 8-10 minutes, or until pale golden-brown. Set aside to harden for 5 minutes, then cool on a wire rack. For the icing, sift the icing sugar into a large mixing bowl and stir in enough water to create a smooth mixture. Stir in the food colouring. Carefully spread the icing onto the biscuits using a knife and set aside until the icing hardens.