Super salted caramel shortbread

Melt-in-the-mouth shortbread is a glorious treat. This recipe is a work of art, with the decadent addition of salted caramel. Cup of tea anyone?

For the shortbread

• 300g butter
• 150g caster sugar
• 350g plain flour
• 100g rice flour (you can pick this up in the supermarket in the flour aisle)
• Flaky salt to decorate

For the Caramel

• 100g Sugar
• Flaky salt

Method:

Caramel

Heat the sugar in a non stick pan gently until it melts. It will bubble and turn golden brown. Swirl the pan as necessary to brown it evenly and prevent sticking.  Add a good sized pinch of salt flakes and tip the caramel onto an oiled baking sheet set on a wooden board. Cool and then break with a rolling pin.

Shortbread

Put the butter and sugar in a food processor or cake mixer and mix until you have a smooth paste. Add the flours, a pinch of salt and mix to form a smooth dough. Tip onto a lightly floured board, pat out gently and sprinkle with the caramel chips. Fold in half and then transfer to a 20 × 30cm (or similar) tin and push into an even layer. Cover and chill for 30 minutes.

Heat the oven to 180C. Bake the shortbread for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown and cooked through. Sprinkle with some salt flakes then cool in the tin for 5 minutes, mark into fingers with a knife and then cool completely. Cut along the marked lines into pieces.

Enjoy.