Night owl biscuits

1. In a medium bowl, using an electric mixer, beat butter and sugar together until pale and creamy. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in vanilla, then fold in flour until well combined.
   
   
2. Turn mixture out onto a lightly floured surface. Knead gently until smooth. Press dough into a disk and wrap in plastic wrap. Chill 30 minutes.
   
   
3. Preheat oven to moderate, 180°C. Line 2 oven trays with baking paper.
   
   
4. Roll dough out between 2 sheets baking paper until 3mm thick. Using a 6cm bell-shaped cutter (see tip), cut shapes from dough. Transfer to trays. Chill 15 minutes.
   
   
   
5. Bake 15-20 minutes, until golden. Cool on tray 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
   
   
6. ROYAL ICING: Place egg-white in a bowl. Gradually whisk in icing sugar until smooth. Spoon ¼ cup into a small bowl. Tint with a few drops blue colouring. Tint remaining orange. Transfer to separate piping bags (or small snap-lock bags).
   
   
7. Invert biscuits. Using orange icing, pipe a thin border around edge of biscuits. Pipe in centre to fill. Use blue icing to pipe on wings as shown.
   
   
8. Twist Oreos in half. Position biscuits for eyes. Press a brown M&M into centre of each for pupils. Press a yellow M&M underneath eyes for a beak. Allow to set at room temperature.

• If you can’t find a bell-shaped cutter, make a bell template from heavy card, place on dough and cut around it.