Rachel Allen's chocolate dipped orange shortbread biscuits recipe

1. 1

   Preheat the oven to 180C/160C fan/Gas mark 4.

2. 2

   Grease a baking sheet with a little butter.

3. 3

   Sift the flour into a large bowl and, using your fingertips, rub in the butter until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs.

4. 4

   Add the sugar and orange zest and bring the whole mixture together to form a stiff dough.

5. 5

   (Don't be tempted to add any water.)

6. 6

   Alternatively, briefly mix the ingredients in a food processor until they come together.

7. 7

   Transfer the dough to a lightly dusted worktop and roll out to about 5mm (1/4inch) thick.

8. 8

   Cut into rounds, fingers, squares or dinosaurs, then lift carefully on to the prepared baking sheet with a palette knife, spacing the biscuits evenly apart.

9. 9

   Bake for 6-10 minutes or until pale golden, then remove from the oven and allow to cool on the baking sheet for a minute or so before transferring to a wire rack to cool down completely.

10. 10

    Place the chocolate in a heatproof bowl over a saucepan of simmering water.

11. 11

    When the chocolate has melted, dip the shortbread in about half way in to the chocolate, then allow any excess to drip off and place on a plate to cool and set.

* Per serving · 4 servings · Values may vary.