This is so quick and so simple that is amazing. I prepare them in advance and freeze them, baking them from frozen in a few minutes whenever I want them. My friend Patri came up with the simple but genial idea of shaping these with your hands, rather than using moulds: it's so much quicker, and you won't use any additional flour.
Ingredients:
1 egg (cold from the fridge)
250gr flour
75gr icing sugar
125gr butter (cold from the fridge)
1 level tsp of baking powder
Method:
Cut the butter into small cubes
Mix the flour with the sugar and the baking powder
Put the flour on the table (classic fountain shape) and make a hole in the middle
Wash your hands in very cold water
Put the butter and the egg in the middle
Mix it well and quickly, the flour will be absorbed and you'll get a nice round piece of dough
TIP: as this is a type of shortcrust pastry, it is important to work it quickly and not to overmix it, do not allow it to warm up too much
Wrap the dough tightly in cling film, and put it to rest in the fridge for 30 mins (up to a full day)
Lightly dust the table, then cut a thick slice of the dough (keep the rest wrapped in cling film) and roll it into a cilinder
Cut the cilinder in small pieces and shape them in little balls
Lightly flatten them (not too much!) and make a little dent in the middle with your little finger
Preheat the oven at 200 degrees C
Line a baking tray with baking paper and put all your cookies there
Using the tip of a small teaspoon, put a little dollop of Nutella, or custard, or jam in the middle of each
Now reduce the oven temperature to 180 degrees C (fan) and bake them on the middle shelf for 8-10 mins (they tend to burn quickly, so watch them!)
