Dunk these tasty morsels in white wine or have them with coffee. You can easily vary them with different dried summer fruits such as dried apricots, dates, cherries, pawpaw or mango.

Ingredients

• 3 tablespoons strawberry eau de vie or fruit juice
• 70 grams whole unblanched almonds
• 125 unsalted butter
• ¾ cup sugar
• ½ teaspoon vanilla essence
• 2 eggs
• 2¼ cups flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• ½ teaspoon baking soda

Method

1. Cut the dried strawberries into small pieces. Bring the strawberry eau de vie or fruit juice to the boil either in the microwave or in a saucepan. Add the dried strawberries and set aside for 10 minutes.
2. Toast the almonds in a 180ºC oven for about 10 minutes until they smell nutty. Watch them carefully as they will burn quickly. Cool and chop into small pieces.
3. Beat the butter, the sugar and the vanilla essence to a cream. Beat in the eggs one at a time, beating well until the mixture is completely smooth.
4. Sift together the flour, baking powder and baking soda and stir into the creamed mixture with the almonds, strawberries and liquid. Stir only until combined.
5. On a lightly floured board, shape sausage-like rolls of dough about 3cm in diameter and the length of the baking tray. Place about 5cm apart on a greased baking tray.
6. Bake at 160ºC for 30 minutes or until set and lightly browned on top.
7. Cool the rolls on a cake rack for 10 minutes, then slice them diagonally into 1cm thick-slices.
8. Lay the slices back on the tray and return them to the oven for a further 7-8 minutes until they are lightly coloured. Turn them over and cook for a further 7-8 minutes. They should be slightly toasted in colour. Cool on a cake rack and keep in an airtight container.

Cooks Tips

- It's often best to flour as well as grease your baking trays to ensure that baked goods will come away easily after cooking. To do this, sprinkle lightly with flour after greasing the tray, then tap the tray so only a light covering of flour stays on. Tap any excess into the sink. - If you are unable to get the dried strawberries use dried apricots, dates , cherries, pawpaw or mango.