There’s nothing that quite evokes Christmas like the smell of baking shortbread! Dating from the 12th century, recipes have evolved since then, but it still maintains its place at special occasions. Fast forward to today and the emphasis is on reducing global food waste and making mindful shopping choices. So, here we have come up with a sustainable twist on traditional shortbread which we hope you will enjoy making and gifting. The coffee grounds, when cooked, give a lovely texture.

Buttery Coffee Shortbread

What you’ll need

• 3/4 lb unsalted butter at room temperature
• 1 cup caster sugar
• 2 tbsp spent dried coffee grounds (from your favourite local café)
• 1 tsp vanilla essence
• 3 3/4 cups flour
• 1 1/2 tsp coarse sea salt

Method

(1) Preheat the oven to 170°C or fan 150°C.

(2) In a bowl, cream the butter and sugar. Add the coffee grounds, vanilla, salt, and flour and stir to form a dough. Don’t overwork it.

(3) Place the dough in the refrigerator and chill for 10 minutes.

(4) Once chilled, roll the dough out to a thickness of 1/2 inch, cutting into the required shape.

(5) Place on a baking sheet and bake for 30-40 (or until golden).

(6) Allow to cool on a wire rack.

(7) Store in an airtight container for up to seven days (as if it will last that long!)

If you need to take the edge of spending quality time with extended family, or if your shortbread has burnt, or if your roast potatoes just won’t crisp, then there’s only one thing for it! Create this perfect twist on a classic White Russian cocktail using premium ingredients from Wales. Did you know, the drink is not Russian in origin, but the name refers to the vodka, a spirit often associated with Russia.

White Russian

What you’ll need

• 1 shot of award-winning Grounds for Good vodka
• 1 shot of coffee liqueur
• 1/2 shot freshly made espresso coffee
• 1/2 – 1 shot of cream (or a vegan alternative)
• 1/4 – 1/2 shot of your favourite syrup (try vanilla, cinnamon or hazelnut)

Most of us love decorating our homes at Christmas, and nothing shouts festive season more than a candle (or two or three!). These beautiful, limited edition, mercury glass candle baubles are divine. Hand-poured in Wales, using eco rapeseed wax and only the best quality essential oils. What makes them more special is that they are balanced perfectly with spent coffee grounds and coffee oil (which comes from the coffee ground). So, they are truly sustainable and unique. Of course, once you have burnt your candle, you can reuse the bauble as a decoration. Available to order from Grounds for Good soon (www.groundsforgood.co.uk).