Ciasteczka with currants & peel

Ciasteczka is the nearest Polish word for biscuits. It can describe small soft cakes or crisper style biscuits or cookies.

At home we always spoke about biskwity and it was only when I first went to Poland that I realised this was NOT A POLISH WORD!

The word nearest to descripting English biscuits is herbatniki – these are biscuits to have with a cup of tea (herbata).

These are often petit beurre, morning coffee or rich tea type biscuits – plain thin biscuits.

These ciasteczka are quite a bit richer – variations of these I would have enjoyed cutting out with my mother.

Ingredients

• 240g plain flour
• 120 butter
• 120g granulated sugar
• ½ teaspoon of baking powder
• ¼ teaspoon of ground cinnamon
• Pinch of salt
• 50g currants
• 30g mixed peel
• 1 egg – beaten
• 1 tablespoon of milk – optional

Method

• Pre-heat the oven to GM4 – 180°C.
• Grease 2 to 3 baking trays.
• Rub the butter into the flour till it resembles breadcrumbs.
• Stir in the rest of the dry ingredients.
• Add enough of the egg to make a soft dough.
• You might need some of the milk.
• Roll out the dough to 1cm thickness.
• Cut out circles using a 7cm circular cutter.
• Place on the baking trays.
• Bake for 15 to 20 minutes till lightly golden.
• Leave to cool on a wire baking rack.