Gill Meller’s brown butter and poppy seed shortbread biscuits

Method

1. Heat the oven to 170C/150C fan/gas mark 3 1/2. Put the butter in a small heavy-based pan over a low-medium heat. Shake the pan once in a while to stop the butter spitting. Cook for about 5-6 minutes, until the butter smells fragrant and nutty and you see the solids browning on the base of the pan. Skim any foamy bubbles from the top.
2. Put the sugar in a medium mixing bowl, then pour over the butter, leaving the solids in the base of the pan; mix well. Combine the flour, cornflour and a pinch of fine salt in a separate bowl, then add to the butter and sugar mixture.
3. Use a spatula to bring everything together to a soft dough. Spread the dough evenly into the cake tin, pressing it down with a spatula to level it. Bake for 50-55 minutes until just firm. Remove from the oven and sprinkle with caster sugar and the poppy seeds. Use a knife to score into rectangular fingers. When fully cool, cut into fingers.