Lemon Shortbread For Ceramic Shortbread Pan Food

LEMON SHORTBREAD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 300 degrees, with rack in upper third. Sift flour and salt into a bowl; set aside. Put butter into the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Mix on medium-high speed until fluffy, 3 to 5 minutes, scraping down sides of bowl. Gradually add sugar; beat until pale and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Mix in lemon zest and juice.
• Reduce speed to low. Add flour mixture all at once; mix until just combined.
• Halve dough, and shape into disks. Wrap each in plastic, and refrigerate 1 hour.
• Working with 1 disk at a time, roll out dough on a lightly floured surface to 1/4 inch thick. Cut out rounds with a 2-inch fluted cutter. Space 1 inch apart on baking sheets lined with parchment. Refrigerate 30 minutes.
• Bake until pale golden brown, 22 to 25 minutes. Transfer cookies to a wire rack; let cool completely. Dust with confectioners' sugar.

LEMON SHORTBREAD COOKIES

Steps:

• For the lemon and cranberry shortbread dough: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 9-by-13-inch pan with aluminum foil (with a 2-inch overhang on all four sides) and grease the bottom and sides with butter.
• In a small bowl, combine the flour and baking powder. Set aside. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, cream the butter with the sugar and vanilla on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 4 minutes. Add the dry ingredients and mix on medium-low until incorporated. Mix in the cranberries and lemon zest.
• Press the mixture into the bottom of the prepared pan. Bake until slightly brown, about 25 minutes.
• For the filling: While the shortbread is baking, whisk together the sugar, eggs, lemon juice, flour, baking powder and salt in a medium bowl. Pour the filling over the baked crust and continue baking until the filling sets and is slightly brown on the edges, about 20 minutes
• Let cool completely in the pan. Use the foil edges to help lift the bar out of the baking pan. Cut into 24 squares and dust with confectioners' sugar.

LEMON SHORTBREAD (FOR CERAMIC SHORTBREAD PAN)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
• Cream butter until light.
• Cream in the powdered sugar and the grated lemon peel.
• Now work in the flour.
• Knead the dough on an unfloured board until nice and smooth.
• Spray the shortbread pan very lightly with a non-stick vegetable spray.
• Firmly press the dough into the shortbread pan.
• Prick the entire surface with a fork, and bake the shortbread right in the pan.
• Bake for 30 - 35 minutes, or until very lightly browned.
• Let the shortbread cool in the pan for about 10 minutes before you loosen the edges with a knife and flip the pan over onto a wooden cutting board.
• If the shortbread does not come right out, tap one edge of the pan.
• Cut the shortbread into serving pieces while it is still warm.
• Note: I usually leave it whole and wrap in plastic wrap and tie with ribbon or rafia for gifts.

LEMON SHORTBREAD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 300°F. Blend first 5 ingredients in processor. Add butter; cut in using on/off turns until moist clumps form. Gather dough into ball; divide in half. Press 1 dough half onto bottom of each of two 8-inch-diameter cake pans. Pierce dough all over with fork.
• Bake until cooked through and pale golden, about 40 minutes. Cool shortbread in pans on racks 5 minutes. Cut each warm shortbread in pan into 12 wedges. Cool completely. Using spatula, carefully transfer to platter. (Can be made up to 4 days ahead. Store in airtight container at room temperature.)