Easter biscuits for granny

We're visiting Granny over the Easter weekend so today I have been helping my girls make Easter biscuits as a gift for her. Making biscuits is always fun but I think it is important that children grow up learning that it is nice to make gifts for family and friends.

Once we had made the biscuits, we converted an old tissue box into an attractive basket for the biscuits. We cut the top off then covered it with pieces of patterned paper, stabled on a piece of patterned cardboard for the handle and lined it with tissue paper. So simple yet very affective and bound to be appreciated.

Traditional Easter Biscuits

4 oz (110g) softened butter
3 oz (85g) caster sugar
1 egg, separated
5 oz (145g) plain flour
2 oz (55g) wholemeal flour (or a total of 7 oz, 200g plain flour)
Pinch of salt
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
½ teaspoon ground mixed spice
2 oz (55g) dried fruit such as currants, sultanas and/or raisins
1 oz (25g) chopped mixed peel
Some milk
A little extra caster sugar or coloured sugar (for decorating)

Preheat oven to 200°C, gas mark 6 and grease a baking sheet. In a bowl, cream together the butter and sugar then beat in the egg. Sift in the flours, salt and spices, then add the dried fruit and peel. Carefully add just enough milk, a little at a time, to bind the mixture into soft dough. On a floured surface, roll out the dough until 5mm (¼ inch) thick and cut out using a pastry cutter. Transfer the biscuits onto the greased baking sheet and bake in the centre of the oven for 5 minutes. Remove them from the oven, brush with the egg white and sprinkle with some caster (or coloured) sugar. Return them to the oven for a further 5 minutes or until golden brown. Transfer the biscuits onto a wire rack to cool completely.