Name: Witches fingers and meringue bones
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 40 min
Ingredients: Witches' fingers; 1 1/2 cup plain flour, sifted; 150 gram butter, chilled, chopped; 1 cup grated cheddar cheese; pinch cayenne pepper; 26 beer nuts; Meringue bones; 4 egg whites; 3/4 cup caster sugar; 1 teaspoon white vinegar or lemon juice; 1 teaspoon vanilla; icing sugar, for dusting

Witches fingers and meringue bones

Perfect for Halloween or a ghost-themed children's party, these sweet tasty biscuits are shaped as long witches fingers and bones to entertain your kids and their guests.

Makes 26 Item

Prep

15M

Cook

25M

Total

40M

Ingredients

Witches' fingers

1 1/2 cup plain flour, sifted

150 gram butter, chilled, chopped

1 cup grated cheddar cheese

pinch cayenne pepper

26 beer nuts

Meringue bones

4 egg whites

3/4 cup caster sugar

1 teaspoon white vinegar or lemon juice

1 teaspoon vanilla

icing sugar, for dusting

Method

Witches’ fingers

1.Preheat oven to moderate, 180°C (160°C fan-forced). Line 2 oven trays with baking paper.

2.Process flour, butter, cheese and cayenne pepper together in a food processor, until mixture forms a firm dough. Transfer to a bowl. Cover and chill for 30 minutes.

3.Mould 1 tablespoon of mixture into the shape of a crooked finger. Arrange on trays. Repeat with remaining dough. Press peanuts into tips to form fingernails.

4.Bake 15-20 minutes, until golden. Cool on trays for 5 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

Meringue bones

5.Preheat oven to slow, 150°C (130°C fan-forced). Line 2 oven trays with baking paper.

6.In a small, clean bowl, beat egg-whites until soft peaks form. Gradually add sugar, one tablespoon at a time, beating until sugar dissolves and mixture is thick and glossy. Beat in vinegar and vanilla.

7.Fit a large piping bag with a 1cm plain nozzle. Pipe mixture into 8cm long bones on trays (pipe a figure 8 at each end).

8.Bake 10 minutes. Reduce oven to very slow, 120°C (100°C fan-forced). Bake further 20-25 minutes. Allow to cool in a turned-off oven, with door ajar. Serve dusted with icing sugar.