Norwegian Cardamom and Lemon Stamped Cookies

I decided to try out something different to satisfy my sweet tooth, and made these Norwegian Cardamom and Lemon Cookies.  I had no idea what to expect from this combination of flavours, but  they're really good!

Makes 24

Ingredients:-
- 225g butter, softened
- 150g caster sugar
- Finely grated zest of 1 lemon
- 250g plain flour
- 100g ground almonds
- 3tsp  ground cardamom or
1 heaped tsp cardamom seeds, ground in a pestle and mortar

How to:-
1. Preheat the oven to 190C / 375F / Gas Mark 5.  Line 2 large baking trays with greaseproof paper.
2. Using a mixer or an electric hand whisk, beat the butter, sugar and lemon zest together in a large bowl until pale and fluffy.  Beat in the flour, almonds and cardamom until the mixture comes together to form a stiff dough.
3. Divide into 24 equal sized balls and place 12 on each baking tray, leaving enough space in between to allow for spreading.  Press each cookie with a cookie stamp or the bottom of a glass to flatten.
4. Bake 1 tray at a time for 12-14 minutes, until the cookies are a pale golden brown.  Leave to cool on the tray for a few minutes then transfer to a wire rack.  Store in an airtight tin and eat within 7 days.

[Recipe: The Hairy Bikers' Big Book Of Baking by Si King and Dave Myers]

Giant Chocolate & Cherry Cake-Cookies

'Cake-Cookies' are something that my sister and I used to make on rainy days when we were kids.  As the name suggests, they are a combination of cake (as these have a slightly spongey centre) and cookie (with a slightly crunchy outside).

Makes 8

Ingredients:-
- 125g unsalted butter at room temp
- 120g caster sugar
- 2 eggs
- 220g self-raising flour
- 2 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
- 100g glacier cherries
- 75g milk chocolate, broken up into small chunks

How to:-
1. Preheat the oven to 180C / 350F / Gas Mark 4.
2. Combined the butter and sugar in a bowl.  Add one of the eggs, making sure to beat it in the mixture thoroughly before adding the second egg. 
3. Add the flour, a little at a time, mixing well.  Add the rest of the ingredients (cocoa powder, cherries and chocolate chunks) and again mix well.
4. Line a large baking tray with greaseproof paper.  Using two spoons, heap the mixture into 8 portions onto the tray and slightly flatten out evenly, leaving space for the mixture to spread a little as it cooks.
5. Bake for 15-20 minutes and allow to stand for 5-10 mins before serving.