Cherry Almond Shortbread Food

CHERRY ALMOND SKILLET SHORTBREAD

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 10-inch cast-iron skillet with nonstick cooking spray, then line the skillet with a parchment circle. Spray the parchment with more cooking spray.
• In a large mixing bowl, stir the granulated sugar into the melted butter. Beat in the eggs one at a time. Sift the flour and salt onto the batter. Add the almond extract, dried cherries and orange zest and stir well.
• Pour the batter into the skillet. Top with the sliced almonds and the turbinado sugar.
• Bake until slightly brown on top, about 35 minutes.
• Cool the shortbread in the skillet. When cool, cut into wedges.

CHERRY ALMOND SHORTBREAD COOKIES

Steps:

• Soak cherries in cassis in small bowl at least 4 hours or overnight. Drain; pat dry.
• Grind 3 tablespoons almonds in mini processor until finely ground. Finely chop remaining almonds.
• Whisk all purpose flour, whole wheat flour, and salt in medium bowl. Using electric mixer, beat butter and sugar in large bowl until creamy, about 2 minutes. Add ground almonds; beat until well blended, about 1 minute. Beat in flour mixture on low speed just to blend.
• Scrape dough out onto sheet of parchment or waxed paper. Using paper as aid, form dough into 81/2x13/4-inch log. Brush dough all over with egg (except for ends). Scatter chopped almonds on sheet of plastic wrap. Roll log in almonds to coat. Wrap in plastic wrap and chill at least 2 hours. DO AHEAD: Dough can be made 2 days ahead. Keep refrigerated. Cover and chill cherries.
• Preheat oven to 350°F. Let dough stand at room temperature 10 minutes. Unwrap dough and cut into 3/8-inch-thick slices. Place cookies on large ungreased baking sheet, spacing 1 inch apart. Place 1 cherry in center of each cookie.
• Bake 10 minutes. Press cherries into cookies (cookies will have softened). Rotate baking sheet in oven and bake until cookies are lightly golden and slightly puffed, about 18 minutes longer. Cool cookies on sheet on rack 5 minutes. Transfer cookies to rack to cool completely. DO AHEAD: Cookies can be made 2 days ahead. Store airtight at room temperature.

CHERRY SHORTBREAD HEARTS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Sift the icing sugar, flour and cornflour together into a bowl. Stir in the ground almonds and butter, then rub in the butter until smooth. Stir in the chopped glacé cherries and almond extract, and bring together to form a dough.
• Roll out on a lightly floured surface, then stamp out biscuits using a heartshaped cutter. Keep re-rolling the trimmings until all the dough is used. Carefully transfer the biscuits to baking trays lined with parchment and bake for just 8-10 mins until just pale golden.
• Using an upturned bottle top or similar, press gently into the centre of each biscuit to make a round indent. Spoon in a little jam and return to the oven for 2 mins. Remove and cool on a wire rack, before dusting with icing sugar to serve.

CHERRY ALMOND SHORTBREAD

Steps:

• Cream butter and sugar well in a large bowl.
• Add remaining ingredients.
• Work into butter mixture.
• Shape into 4 rolls about 1 1/2 inches in diameter.
• Put each roll into waxed paper and chill.
• Cut into 1/4 inch slices and bake on an ungreased baking sheet at 200C degrees for 6-7 minutes until edges show some browning.

CHERRY AND ALMOND SHORTBREAD

Steps:

• Beat butter and sugar together until pale
• Stir in ground almonds, then glace cherries, chopped.
• Stir in flour until you have a paste.
• Turn onto lightly floured work surface & gently roll until 1cm thick
• Cut into rounds, fingers or shapes. Put on baking sheet and sprinkle with caster sugar.
• Chill for 20-30 mins
• Bake for 15-20 mins on 190° gas mark 5
• Cool on wire rack