A basic shortbread recipe can form the base of an array of different flavoured and shaped biscuits, as long as you have cookie cutters and a few extra ingredients such as lemon zest, glacé cherries, walnuts and desiccated coconut to hand. For a stained-glass effect, cut a star shape out from the centre of a rolled-out cookie and place a crushed boiled sweet in the space before baking. Once cooked and cooled, shower with icing sugar.

Get the recipe for Christmas shortbread here

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