Sweet cicely shortbread

Pass me a plate of shortbread and I’ll make a fair dent in it, even more so when it’s made with sweet cicely. That gentle aniseed lifts the traditional shortbread beautifully, sweetening it just a little too. I haven’t given a weight of sweet cicely seeds as it’s all about the strength of the seeds, hence making the sweet cicely sugar first - to a strength you like. I like this shortbread almost as much with fennel seeds or chopped lavender flowers instead of the sweet cicely.