anyone got that recipe for the tiered star shortbread cake thing - sainsburys mag dec 2004

[hermykne]

the stars are decreasing concentric and there was a template included.
tia

I've got it. Am crap at links and things so can I either it post it to you tomorrow (last day for post before chrimbo) or type it out here? Won't have the template tho.

Thought I'd type it anyway for you....if you need the actual recipe with template let me know.
500g butter, softened to room temp
250g caster sugar
650g plain flour + extra for dusting
1.5 tea spoons vanilla extract
2 x 450g packs supercook ready rolled icing
icing sugar for rolling
4 tbl spns apricot jam
silver dragees to decorate (opt)

cut out the star templates (8 star shapes)
Preheat oven to gas 2, 150 cent/300 far. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment.
On a low speed mix butter and sugar with beater attachment for 2 mins until soft and just combined. Add flour and vanilla and beat on low speed til stiff dough is formed. Cover with clingfilm and chill for 20 mins. (Have glass of wine)
Divide dough into 3, work with one portion at a time and keep other 2 chilled. Roll out each portion to a thickness of 5-7mm.
Using star templates cut out 2 cookies of each size. Rpeat and keep rolling and cutting until you have 16 stars.
Place stars on prepared baking sheets and chill for 15 mins. (more wine)
Bake in 3 batches for about 15 mins until firm and pale golden. Cool on a wire rack.
To ice, work with one pack of icing at a time. Sprinkle work surface with icing sugar and lay out a sheet of icing. Give it a couple of rolls with the rolling pin to flatten a little. Place the baked cookies on the icing and use them as a guide to cut out the icing stars. Warm the jam with 2 tbl spns of water and use this to stick the icing to the cookies. Press the icing down gently with fingers.
To assemble, stack the cookies in order of size, starting with biggest and ensure as you stack the alternate points of the stars over lap. Stand the final cookie on 2 of its points and decorate the tree with silver dragees, if you like.

NOTE: The stars are 6 pointed, and the biggest measures 16.5 cm at its widest point, the smallest measures 6cm. (you know when you draw stars with 2 triangles? that is what these are like)
I hope this helps you and I hope you make a lovely shortbread tree!
Merry christmas

gingermopnkey
thank yu so much
i am only coming back to this now.
i hope u see it!

thanks a million

i dont recall wine in the recipe

thanks again for typing it out too!

Yes there was DEFINATELY wine in the recipe, it's a very large glass of wine each time, and to be drunk by chef only! Good luck!And a very merry christmas to you and your family xxx