Ingredients

• 8oz/225g caster sugar
• 8oz/225g icing sugar, plus extra for dusting
• 1lb/450g ground almonds
• 2 egg yolks
• 2 whole eggs
• 2 tsp/10ml lemon juice
• 6 drops vanilla essence

Method

1. Sift the sugars into a bowl and mix with the almonds.
2. Mix together the egg yolks, whole eggs, lemon juice and vanilla essence. Add this to the sugar mixture and beat briefly with a wooden spoon.
3. Lightly dust a working surface with icing sugar. Knead the paste until just smooth (overworking will draw the oil out of the almonds, making it greasy).
4. Wrap well and store in a cool place.

Notes