Schackrutor - Chess Shortbread

These biscuits or shortbreads are decorative and delicious. They are another favourite to serve for fika. I like them as they are not overly sweet, and they are fun to bake!

Ingredients:

200 g butter
75 g sugar (0.75 dl) or icing sugar (1.5 dl)
300 g flour (6 dl)

1.5-2 tblsp cocoa powder
1 tblsp vanilla powder
Method:

Pour the flour in a heap on your baking table, and place sugar and butter on top. Chock the ingredients together wth a knife. Then work into a dough with your hands. Don't over work it or it will become tough, just knead it until it comes together into a ball. Let the dough rest in a cool place for a while.

If you want a superbly short texture, you can stir butter and sugar until it it fluffy and work in the flour quickly.

Divide the dough into two.

Add 1.5-2 tblsp cocoa powder to one half. Add 1 tblsp vanilla sugar to the other. Roll into 4 lengths - 2 dark, 2 light.

Place one dark and one light length next to each other. Place the second dark on top of the light one, and vice versa, forming a chess pattern.

Press lightly on them to meld the pieces together and to make them more square in shape. Leave them in a cool place to rest.

Cut into 3-5 mm slices. I sometimes make them thicker and bigger.

Bake in 225 degrees C (437 F) for about 8-10 minutes, adjusting for size. They shouldn't be brown, just slightly golden on the edges!