This is a delicious variation on the classic shortbread biscuit! The name “petticoat tails” dates to the eighteenth century, and references the shape of the cookie, which is said to resemble a lady’s spread-out petticoat.
The Concise Encyclopedia of Gastronomy regales the following tale: “‘An English traveller in Scotland and one very well acquainted with Frances states in his very pleasant book that our Club has fallen into a mistake in the name of these cakes, and that petticoat tails is a corruption of the French petites gatelles.
It may be so, but whatever their origins the fact remains that they are beautiful shortbread biscuits/cookies being perfectly crumbly and delicious!
Beautifully buttery and crisp shortbread triangles, flavoured with peppermint, I'll admit that they don't look very festive yet, but they will do come next week closer to Christmas, as I plan on drizzling them with a chocolate and peppermint drizzle which will dress them up beautifully.
You can leave the peppermint flavouring out if you wish, giving you a plain shortbread petticoat tail, but the peppermint really gives them a lovely festive touch.
Can you imagine a wheel of these, nestled amongst festively coloured tissue paper in a box for the holidays? Tied up with red, green and white curling ribbons?
*Peppermint Petticoat Tails*
Makes 8 servings
Put the butter, sugar and peppermint extract into the bowl of a food processor. Blitz until the mixture is pale and creamy. Sift together the flour and cornflour. Stir in the salt. Tip the dry ingredients into the bowl of the food processor and pulse until the mixture begins to form small clumps. Tip out onto a lightly floured board. Bring the dough together into a ball without overworking it. Place into a 9 inch fluted tart tin with a loose bottom. Gently press out evenly in the tin using floured fingers and a light touch. Mark into 8 equal wedges with the tines of a fork.
Place into the refrigerator to chill for half an hour. Preheat the oven to 180*C/350*F/ gas mark 4.
What friend or neighbor wouldn't smile broadly at such a gift! You can bake several of these ahead and freeze them, tightly wrapped until the day you want to give them away. Guaranteed to make you popular with everyone! Bon Appetit and Happy Holidays!
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