Hazelnut Butter Shortbread Food

HAZELNUT SHORTBREAD COOKIES

Steps:

• If the hazelnuts are raw, toast them by spreading them out on a baking sheet and putting them in a 350 degree oven for ten minutes. Shake the pan a few times.
• Put the flour and the toasted hazelnuts in a food processor together and run until the hazelnuts are completely ground up (you are basically making hazelnut flour). Combining the nuts with the flour makes the whole process neater.
• Put all the ingredients into a large bowl.
• Mix by hand, quickly. Don't overmix. You may see flecks of butter, that's okay.
• Form into a ball, cover with plastic wrap, and cool in the refrigerator for two hours or overnight.
• Work with half the dough at a time, keeping the rest refrigerated.
• Roll the dough into an oblong, and then cut quickly into equal size pieces, the size of a large walnut. Each piece should be rolled briefly between the palms and then put on an ungreased cookie sheet. Press a whole hazelnut into the cookie, fairly deeply.
• Bake ten minutes at 350 Fahrenheit. They should be very lightly browned when you take them out of the oven.
• Let sit until cool. Sprinkle with additional powdered sugar.

HAZELNUT SHORTBREAD COOKIES

Steps:

• Combine flour and hazelnuts.
• In a large bowl, cream the butter and brown sugar.
• Gradually blend in the dry ingredients.
• Cover and chill for 8 hours or overnight.
• Preheat oven to 300 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Lightly grease cookie sheets.
• On a floured surface, roll out the dough to a thickness of 1/4".
• Using cookie cutters, cut out the shapes and place on prepared cookie sheets 1-1/2" apart.
• Bake for 20 to 25 minutes until lightly colored.
• Transfer to wire racks to cool.