Crystallised ginger & chocolate shortbread

Method

• step 1

  Heat the oven to 190C/170C fan/ gas 5. Beat the butter, sugar and ground ginger together in a large bowl with an electric whisk until creamy. Add the stem ginger and mix to combine. Tip in the flour and cornflour, and mix until you have a thick dough. If needed, use slightly damp hands to bring it together.

• step 2

  Roll out the dough between two sheets of baking parchment into a 22-24cm square that’s about 1cm thick. Slide onto a baking tray and chill for about 1 hr until firm.

• step 3

  Remove the top sheet of baking parchment and cut the chilled dough into 20-24 rectangles (they should be about 10 x 2cm). Bake on the parchment on the baking tray for 15-20 mins until the edges are light brown. Leave to cool for 10 mins on the tray, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

• step 4

  Melt the chocolate in a heatproof bowl set over a pan of simmering water, ensuring the bowl doesn’t touch the water, or do this in the microwave in five-second bursts. Dip half of each biscuit into the chocolate and sprinkle with the extra chopped crystallised ginger. Leave to set for about 1 hr on a wire rack. Will keep in an airtight container for up to four days.