Irish Shortbread Food

IRISH SHORTBREAD COOKIES

Steps:

• Cream butter and sugar together until light and fluffy.
• Sift in cornstarch and flour; mix well.
• Press into a 10 3/4 by 7 inch pan.
• Prick all over with a fork.
• Bake in preheated 275 F oven for 30 minutes, then reduce heat to 250 F and bake 1 to 1 1/2 hours longer.
• Remove from pan and sprinkle with powdered sugar. Cut into 20 finger shaped cookies.

IRISH BUTTER SHORTBREAD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper; set aside.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream together butter and sugar. With the mixer on low, slowly add flour. Continue mixing until dough comes together to form a ball.
• Transfer dough to a lightly floured work surface; roll out dough to about 1/4-inch thickness, dusting rolling pin with flour as necessary to prevent sticking. Using a 2 1/4-inch round, fluted cutter, cut out dough. Transfer to prepared baking sheet, spacing about 1 inch apart. Gather up any scraps, gently re-roll, and repeat cutting process. Take care not to overwork dough.
• Transfer baking sheet to oven and bake until shortbread just begins to turn golden, about 30 minutes. Transfer cookies to a wire rack to cool. Shortbread may be stored in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

TRADITIONAL IRISH SHORTBREAD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• In a large bowl, using a hand mixer (or using a stand mixer and the paddle attachment), beat the butter and sugar until fluffy.
• Turn the mixer to low and blend in the flour and salt until fully incorporated and the dough forms a ball.
• Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface (or if baking in blocks, a piece of parchment paper) and roll to approximately ¼" thickness. OR cut the dough with cookie cutters (if using) and place on a parchment-lined baking sheet. If baking in blocks, use a pizza cutter to even the edges of the dough, and transfer the cut block of cookie (parchment paper and all) to a baking sheet.
• Bake in a preheated oven for 15-17 minutes or until you achieve your desired color or doneness.
• -Cool completely, and break the blocks into pieces (if desired).

IRISH SHORTBREAD (WHEAT FREE EDITION)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C). Line 2 8-inch cake pans with parchment paper.
• Place the butter and sugar into a bowl, and mix with a wooden spoon until the mixture is soft, creamy, and thoroughly blended. Stir in the rye and corn flours, and divide the dough into 2 pieces. Press each piece of dough evenly into a prepared cake pan. Using a fork, prick 7 or 8 rows of shallow little holes into the top of each cake. Sprinkle the tops of the cakes with colored sugar, if desired.
• Bake in the preheated oven until the tops of the cakes are golden brown, and the edges turn a slightly darker brown, 45 minutes to 1 hour.
• Cut each shortbread into 8 wedges while still warm; cool and store in a tightly sealed cookie tin or container lined with parchment or waxed paper.

IRISH SHORTBREAD WITH CURRANTS

Steps:

• preheat oven to 325.
• sift the flour and salt into a bowl and mix in semolina.
• beat together the butter, sugar and lemon zest.
• stir in flour mixture and currants.
• work the dough with your hands til it clumps together.
• mold into a flattened ball and place on nonstick baking sheet.
• press the dough into 9 1/2 inch circle.
• trim edges neatly and make indentations on edges with a fork and prick the surface all over top.
• bake 35 minutes.
• cut into 12 wedges.