Lavender Shortbread For Summer Berries Food

LAVENDER SHORTBREAD

Steps:

• In a bowl, combine confectioners' sugar and 2 teaspoons lavender; cover and set aside at room temperature for 24 hours. , In a bowl, cream butter, sugar and remaining lavender. Combine flour, cornstarch and salt; add to the creamed mixture. Divide dough in half. Cover and refrigerate until easy to handle, 2 hours. , Preheat oven to 325°. On a lightly floured surface, roll out 1 portion of dough to 1/4-in. thickness. Cut into 1-1/2-in. squares. Repeat with remaining dough. , Place 1 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets. Prick with a fork several times. Bake until edges are lightly browned, 18-22 minutes. Cool for 1 minute before removing to wire racks to cool completely. Sift reserved lavender sugar; discard lavender. Sprinkle cookies with the sugar. Store in airtight containers.

LAVENDER SHORTBREAD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325°F.
• Cream together butter, sugar, lavender and mint with a mixer until light and fluffy.
• Add flour, cornstarch and salt and beat until well mixed.
• Divide dough into two, flatten into discs, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until firm.
• Roll out dough to 1/2" thickness on a floured board.
• Cut into 1 1/2" squares or into rounds.
• Bake 20-25 minutes on parchment covered cookie sheets, or until golden.
• Let cookies cool on the sheet for a few minutes before transferring to a rack to cool completely.
• When completely cool, dust with lavender-flavored powdered sugar (see recipe Lavender Sugar#71901 or Flavored Sugars#53926) or plain powdered sugar would be fine.

LAVENDER SHORTBREAD

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Cream the butter until soft in a mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. Add 1/4 cup sugar and mix until incorporated. Stir together the flour, cornstarch, and salt in a medium bowl. Add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture and mix at low speed just until the ingredients are almost incorporated, then add the lavender, and mix until the dough starts to come together. Flour a work surface, turn the dough onto it, and knead it 5 to 10 times, to bring the dough together and smooth it out.
• Reflour the work surface. With a rolling pin, roll the dough out to a little less than 1/4-inch thick to fit an 8 by 8-inch square baking pan lined with parchment. To transfer to the pan, roll the dough up onto the rolling pin, lift it up, and unroll into the pan. (Or, press the dough thoroughly into the pan with your fingers.) Prick the shortbread all over with a fork, or use a pique-vite (dough docker) if you've got one, to prevent any buckling or shrinking. Sprinkle the surface evenly with 1 tablespoon of the remaining sugar.
• Bake for 15 minutes. After 15 minutes, deflate the dough by knocking the pan once against the oven rack then rotate the pan to ensure even cooking and a flat surface. Bake 10 to 15 minutes more, until golden all over and very lightly browned. As soon as it comes out of the oven, sprinkle the surface evenly with the remaining tablespoon of sugar. Let cool about 5 minutes. Using a very sharp knife, cut into 3 rows by 5 rows making about 1 1/2-inch by 3-inch bars. Let cool completely in the pan. Remove from the pan and store in an airtight container for up to 1 week.

LAVENDER SHORTBREAD FOR SUMMER BERRIES

Steps:

• Beat the butter and sugar and lavender essence with an electric whisk until soft and creamy. Work in the flour and rice flour, lemon rind and lavender flowers.
• Press the mixture into a round 20cm/8 inch loose-based cake tin and sprinkle with a little sugar. Bake at 160C/320F/gas 3 for 30-35 minutes until light golden.
• Mark the shortbread into 12 wedges and then leave to cool in the tin.
• Remove very carefully and serve with fresh strawberries or raspberries and whipped lavender cream.

LAVENDER SHORTBREAD WITH FRUITS, FLOWERS, AND HERBS

Steps:

• Using a wooden spoon or rubber spatula, stir egg whites, powdered sugar, and cream of tartar in a medium bowl until a thick paste forms with no dry spots. Ideally, glaze should sit at least 12 hours for sugar to fully hydrate, but it can be used as soon as cookies have cooled. Or, you can cover and chill up to 1 week. Bring to room temperature before using.
• Whisk rice flour, salt, and 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour in a medium bowl. Using an electric mixer on medium-high, beat butter, sugar, and lavender in a medium bowl until very pale and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Mix in dry ingredients on low until fully combined. Wrap in plastic and chill at least 2 hours and up to 2 days. Preheat oven to 350°. Roll out dough between 2 sheets of lightly floured parchment to 1/8" thick. Using large cutter, cut out 16 rounds, rerolling scraps. Using small cutter, punch out centers. Bake on parchment-lined baking sheets until edges are golden, 12-14 minutes. Let cool on a wire rack.
• Working quickly, dip tops of cookies into glaze, letting excess drip off. Transfer to wire rack and decorate.

LAVENDER SHORTBREAD COOKIES

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, cream together the butter, white sugar and confectioners' sugar until light and fluffy. Mix in the lavender, mint and lemon zest. Combine the flour, cornstarch and salt; mix into the batter until well blended. Divide dough into two balls, wrap in plastic wrap and flatten to about 1inch thick. Refrigerate until firm, about 1hour.
• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough out to 1/4 inch thickness. Cut into shapes with cookie cutters. Cookie stamps will work well on these too. Place on cookie sheets.
• Bake for 18 to 20 minutes in the preheated oven, just until cookies begin to brown at the edges. Cool for a few minutes on the baking sheets then transfer to wire racks to cool completely.