Quick Shortbread Cookies

Some time ago I had made Scottish Shortbread Cookies and they took a bit of time to make. I know that I will not have the time to make this for the coming holidays so instead I am going to make an easier version that is great for gift giving and as well as the holiday parties.

Here are the ingredients needed for this recipe:

• 1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
• 1 cup confectioners’ sugar
• 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp. salt
• melted chocolate

Step 1: In a medium bowl, sift together the flour and salt; set aside.

Step 2: In a large bowl, add the butter and whisk until smooth.

Step 3: Sift in the confectioners’ sugar and whisk until light and fluffy.

Step 4: Add in the flour and fold to combine. (Side Note: should look like sand)

Step 5: Transfer dough onto a clean surface and knead once (Important Note: knead away and into pieces by pressing down and away.)

Step 6: Form a ball and flatten slightly.

Step 7: Cover the dough and chill in the refrigerator for 1 hour.

Step 8: Place dough onto a baking sheet and roll dough until it is 1/2-inch thick. (the dough was a bit tough so I crumbled the dough and press it together with a rolling pin)

Step 9: Cut the dough with either a sharp knife or a bench scrapper.

Step 10: Prick the cookies with a fork.

Step 11: Bake at 300°F for 45 minutes, or until light golden brown.

Step 12: Re-cut the cookies once they are out of the oven and allow to cool completely in the pan.

Step 13: Dip one end of the cookie into the melted chocolate and allow the chocolate to harden before serving.

Scottish Shortbread

So I was watching Gordon Ramsay’s Ultimate Christmas and saw him make a pretty simple shortbread recipe. I really wanted to make it, but a less expensive and wasteful version. It goes really well with tea or coffee in the winter afternoons. This version is a more rustic feel to it and is a bit crumbly, but really buttery.

Here are the ingredients needed for this recipe:

• 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup rice flour or cornstarch
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup frozen unsalted butter
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract (optional)

Step 1: Take out an 8-in. tart pan with a removable bottom (Since I don’t have that I’ll be using an 8-in. cake pan)

Step 2: In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, rice flour, salt and sugar together.

Step 3: Take the frozen butter and grate it over the flour mixture (you can add the vanilla extract at this time)

Step 4: With your fingertips, work the butter into the flour by lifting small handfuls and rubbing the butter and flour together. Do this until the mixture looks like breadcrumbs. (do not form a dough)

Step 5: Evenly press the shortbread into the tart pan, smoothing the top as much as possible.

Step 6:Place shortbread in freezer for 10-15 minutes.

Step 7: Preheat oven to 300°F with the rack in the center of the oven.

Step 8: Score the top of the shortbread, by slightly cutting the top of the shortbread creating 8 or 16 triangles. (will flake don’t worry about it)

Step 9: Press a thumbprint at the edge of each triangle.

Step 10: Prick the surface shortbread with a fork.

Step 11: Bake for 40-50 minutes, or until light golden/biscuit color.

Step 12: Allow to cool slightly in pan on a wire rack for 5 minutes

Step 13: With a sharp knife cut all the way through the score marks on the shortbread (do this while shortbread is still quite warm)

Step 14: Allow shortbread to cool completely in pan on wire rack before removing from pan.

Notes:

1. If you have overly warm hands you can place the flour into the refrigerator to reduce melting of the butter