Browned Butter Biscuits

Rich buttery flavour with a good dose of vanilla. Both crunchy and chewy. Simple to make.

1. 1

   Put the butter in a saucepan. Add the vanilla (if using a fresh vanilla pod, slit it lengthways, scrape out the seeds and add both the seeds and the pod to the pan). Place the pan over a medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the butter melts, foams, and then browns and smells nutty (about 6 to 8 minutes). Take off the heat and leave to cool for 15 minutes (or longer if you prefer). Remove the vanilla pod if using.
   Preheat the oven to 200 degrees C and line 2 baking sheets with baking paper or a silicone mat.
   Lightly beat the egg with a fork. Add the sugars and egg to the pan, sift in the flour and bicarbonate of soda and mix together.
   Roll the mixture into walnut-sized balls and place them about 5 cm apart on the lined baking trays. Press each ball to flatten it slightly, then bake for 10 minutes.
   Leave on the trays for 5 minutes, then move to a wire rack to cool completely.