Cheddar Apple Shortbread Food

THE BEST APPLE CRISP BARS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees (F). Line a 9x13-inch pan with parchment paper, allowing paper to overhang on two of the ends. Spray with non-stick baking spray and set aside.
• In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, or in a large mixing bowl using a handheld electric mixer, beat together the butter and both sugars until light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes. On low speed, add flour and mix until combined. The dough will be crumbly.
• Press dough evenly into the bottom of the prepared pan. Bake for 16 minutes. Remove from oven and set on a cooling rack to cool as you prepare the filling. Keep oven temperature at 350.
• In a large bowl, combine apples and lemon juice and toss to coat. Add in the cinnamon, flour, sugar, and salt. Toss until apples are evenly coated. Arrange apples in an even layer on top of the partially baked crust.
• Cut the butter into small cubes.
• In a large bowl, combine the oats, both sugars, cinnamon, and flour. Add in the cubed butter and, using two forks or a pastry blender, cut the butter into the dry ingredients until mixture resembles a coarse meal.
• Sprinkle the topping evenly over the apples.
• Place the pan in the oven and bake for 45 to 50 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and the apples are bubbling.
• Remove from the oven and place the pan on a cooling rack. Cool for at least 1 hour before serving.

SAVORY CHEDDAR APPLE HAND PIES

Steps:

• Melt 1 tablespoon of the butter in a medium saute pan over medium-low heat. Add the onion, a pinch of salt and a few grinds of pepper. Cook, stirring frequently, until the onion is softened and caramelized, 8 to 10 minutes. Add 2 tablespoons water and scrape up any browned bits from the bottom and sides of the pan.
• Increase the heat to medium high. Add the apples and cook, stirring, until just starting to soften, 3 to 5 minutes. Add the remaining 1 tablespoon butter, then sprinkle with the sugar, ginger, 2 teaspoons of the thyme and another pinch of salt. Cook, stirring, until the apples are very tender and light golden, about 6 minutes more. Stir in 1/4 cup of the Cheddar cheese spread and cook until melted and smooth, then remove from the heat. Transfer to a medium bowl and refrigerate until completely cool, about 30 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment.
• Unroll a pie dough sheet on a cutting board or clean work surface. Cut out 8 circles with a 4-inch round cutter; gather and reroll the dough if necessary. Beat the egg in a small bowl with 1 teaspoon water. Place about 1 tablespoon of the apple filling into the center of a dough round, then top with 1/4 teaspoon of the remaining Cheddar cheese spread. Brush the edges with some egg wash and fold the dough over to make a half-moon shape. Press out the air and seal the edges with a fork. Transfer to one of the prepared baking sheets. Repeat with the remaining dough and filling.
• Brush the hand pies with more egg wash and sprinkle with the sesame seeds, poppy seeds and remaining 1 tablespoon thyme. Bake until golden brown and puffed, 20 to 25 minutes.

SCOTTISH SHARP-CHEDDAR SHORTBREAD

Steps:

• Using electric mixer fitted with whisk attachment, beat together butter, salt, black pepper, and cayenne at low speed just until blended. Add Cheddar and flour and mix at low speed just until smooth (do not overmix). Shape dough into disk, wrap in plastic wrap or waxed paper, and chill 30 minutes.
• Arrange racks in upper and lower thirds of oven and preheat to 350°F. Line 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper.
• On lightly floured surface, roll out dough to 1/4- to 1/8-inch-thick round. Using 1 1/2- to 2-inch round cutter, cut out rounds and arrange 1 1/2 inches apart on baking sheets. Reroll scraps if desired (rerolled scraps will be tougher).
• Bake shortbread until lightly golden and beginning to brown on edges, about 13 to 15 minutes. Cool on sheets 5 minutes, then transfer to racks to cool completely.

CHEDDAR SHORTBREAD BITES

Steps:

• Combine flour, butter, salt and red pepper in medium bowl; beat at medium speed until dough forms. Add cheese; mix until a ball forms. Shape dough into circle; wrap in plastic food wrap. Refrigerate 2 hours or overnight.
• Heat oven to 350°F Roll out dough on lightly floured surface to 1/4-inch thickness. (It will be hard to roll at first, but will soften. Press together any cracks that form on edges of dough.) Cut dough with 1 1/2-inch cookie cutters or pizza cutter into desired shapes. Place onto ungreased baking sheets.
• Beat egg white and water together in small bowl. Brush cut-outs with egg wash; sprinkle with seeds.
• Bake for 12 to 15 minutes or until very lightly browned around edges. Immediately loosen from pan; let cool on pan.
• Recipe Tip
• Shortbread can be topped with a variety of other ingredients such as chili powder, seasoned salt, fennel seed or herbs.

SAVORY SHORTBREAD

Steps:

• Add flour and cayenne pepper to the bowl of a food processor; pulse to combine. Add butter, and pulse until the mixture resembles coarse meal, 8 to 10 seconds.
• Add cheese to the food processor; pulse until combined. Transfer the mixture to a large bowl.
• Using a fork, stir in milk and Worcestershire sauce until well combined. Have ready several pieces of parchment paper.
• Form mixture into two 1-inch-diameter logs, and wrap in parchment. Transfer the logs to the refrigerator, and chill until very firm, at least 1 hour.
• Heat oven to 350 degrees. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Remove logs from refrigerator, and cut each one into 1/4-inch-thick rounds. Place the rounds on prepared baking sheets, spaced 1 inch apart.
• Bake the shortbread until golden, about 12 minutes, rotating baking sheets between shelves halfway through baking.
• Transfer shortbread to wire racks to cool. Bake remaining dough. Store in an airtight container up to 2 days.

CHEDDAR SHORTBREAD

Steps:

• Combine butter, mustard, and pepper in food processor, and whirl to combine. Add cheese and whirl again to mix.
• Add flour and pulse just until blended.
• Roll dough out on a lightly floured surface, to 1/4 inch thickness. Cut with desired small cookie cutter and transfer to cookie sheet.
• Bake at 350 degrees F. for about 20 minutes, until lightly browned on the bottom.

CHEDDAR & HAZELNUT SHORTBREAD

Steps:

• Blitz 85g of the hazelnuts in a food processor until ground. Cut the rest of the hazelnuts in half.
• Pulse the ground hazelnuts, butter, flour, cheddar, ½ tsp salt and the egg in the food processor a few times. Don't pulse for too long - you want the mixture to look like breadcrumbs rather than coming together in a ball. Tip the mixture onto a large piece of cling film and, using the cling film to shape it, mould it into a ball, then leave in the fridge for a couple of hours.
• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Pull off chunks of the dough - about a tablespoon at a time - and roll each piece into a ball. Place on a baking sheet and flatten each biscuit to around 3.5cm across, leaving room between each one. Push 3-4 hazelnut halves into each biscuit. Cook for 10 mins, or until the biscuits are golden brown. Leave to cool on the baking sheet, then transfer to a wire rack. Will keep for up to three days in an airtight container.

CHEDDAR APPLE SHORTBREAD

Steps:

• Apple Butter Melt 2 TB Butter in a saucepan. Add apples, sugar, spices and lemon zest. Cook covered for 5 minutes. Uncover and continue to cook at a simmer until the apples are tender,around 45-60 minutes. Remove from heat, place in blender and puree the mixture. While it is still warm, add the remaining butter. Cool completely. Blend 4 TB sugar and salt in processor. Cut in butter using on/off turns until blended and smooth. Cut in grated cheese. Add flour and process until blended but still slightly crumbly, occasionally scraping down sides of bowl. Dough will look like meal. Gather dough into ball; shape into log. If dough is too dry to come together add a tablespoon of icewater. Wrap in plastic and refrigerate 30 minutes. Position rack in top third of oven and preheat to 275°F. Slice logs into rounds no wider than ½ inch wide. Top each with a dollop of apple butter and finish with a sliver of butter and a sprinke of pecans. Bake shortbread 50-65 minutes minutes. Rotate pans once if your oven cooks unevenly.Cool in pans on racks 10 minutes and remove to racks.