These easy-to-make shortbread biscuits taste extra special with finely chopped Spanish Persimon®, pistachios and lime zest. Perfect for Bonfire Night, and a great idea for homemade Christmas gifts. Or why not make some to sell at Christmas fetes?

Makes approximately 25
Preparation time: 20 minutes
Cooking time: 12-15 minutes

Ingredients

• 1 Spanish Persimon®
• 225g butter, at room temperature
• 110g caster sugar
• 325g plain flour
• 25g cornflour
• Pinch salt
• 50g shelled pistachio nuts, finely chopped
• Finely grated zest of 1 lime
• 100g icing sugar
• Tiny gold or silver edible stars, for decoration

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 180°C/fan oven 160°C/Gas Mark 4. Line 2 or 3 baking trays with baking paper (if you only have 1 baking tray, cook in batches).
2. Remove and discard the leafy top from the Spanish Persimon®, then chop the fruit very finely.
3. Beat together the butter and caster sugar until combined, using a wooden spoon. (The mixture doesn’t need to be light). Add the flour, cornflour and salt and work them in with the wooden spoon. Add the Persimon®, pistachio nuts and lime zest, then use your hand to bring the mixture together.
4. Turn out the dough onto a floured surface and knead for a few moments until smooth – but avoid over-handling. Roll out on a lightly floured surface and stamp out biscuits with a star-shaped cutter (or just use a round one). Re-roll the trimmings to make about 25 biscuits in total, placing them on the baking sheets.
5. Bake for 12-15 minutes until pale golden brown. Cool on the trays for 5 minutes, then transfer to wire racks to cool completely.
6. Mix the icing sugar with a little water to make a thin icing. Drizzle over the biscuits and sprinkle them with the edible stars.

Cook’s tip: If you have a nut allergy, simply omit the pistachios.