* Hazelnut Squares

We appear to be getting all four seasons in one day - I swear blind it was snowing out there a moment ago, but now the sun is shining and it's mizzling on and off. I've given up on getting the washing dried and although it's not quite cold enough to turn the heating on yet, I thought I could warm the place up briefly by turning the oven on and doing a spot of baking.

Yet again there are no biscuits in the tin, so I thought I'd make some Hazelnut Squares. Not quite a biscuit (cookie) and not quite a cake - they'll fill a hole if I get the munchies later on - which I will - because I'm awake.

These are stickily declicious and incredibly moreish - and very, very simple to make. You can substitute virtually any nut in place of the hazelnut, but why would you?

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Hazelnut Squares Recipe

Makes 16 Squares/Bars

Prep time - 10 minutes

Cooking time - 15-25 minutes

You will need

A 9inch/23cm square baking tin

Baking Parchment

A food processor/kenwood chef or large bowl

Ingredients

150g plain flour

1 tsp baking powder

Pinch of Salt

100g butter - chopped into pieces

100g soft light brown sugar

1 egg - beaten

100g hazelnuts - halved

4 tbsp milk

Brown demera sugar/granulated white sugar

Method

Preheat oven to 180c/fan155c/350f/gas4

Grease the baking tin and line with the baking parchment.

Put the flour, salt and baking powder and butter into your food processor/kenwood chef and using the paddle attachment mix together until the mixture resembles fine bread crumbs - or do it the old fashioned way in a bowl, rubbing the flour and butter through your fingers until the same is achieved. Stir in the brown sugar.

Add the hazelnuts, milk and beaten egg and stir well until thoroughly combined. Spoon the mixture into the prepared baking tin, level the surface and sprinkle with demerera sugar or ordinary white granulated sugar.

Bake in the oven for 25 minutes until firm to touch and golden brown on top. Allow to cool in tin for at least 10 minutes before turning out, peeling off the baking parchment and cutting into squares.

EAT