Maple Oatmeal Hazelnut Shortbread Food

MAPLE OATMEAL HAZELNUT SHORTBREAD

Steps:

• In food processor, finely grind hazelnuts; set aside.
• In large bowl, beat butter with SPLENDA until light; beat in maple syrup and maple extract.
• Stir in oats and flour.
• Roll into balls using 1 Tbsp dough per ball. Roll in ground nuts to coat.
• Flatten slightly; place, about 1 inch apart on lightly sprayed/greased baking sheets. Refrigerate for 30 minutes.
• Bake in 350°F oven for about 10 minutes or until puffed and set.
• Let cool one minute. Transfer to racks; let cool completely.

MAPLE SHORTBREAD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 300°; lightly grease two 9-inch round cake pans; sprinkle each pan with 1 tablespoon of the maple sugar.
• In a bowl, cream together the butter, salt, regular sugar, ½ cup maple sugar, maple extract, and vanilla; then beat in the flour.
• Divide the dough in half and press it into the prepared pans, smoothing surface with your fingers.
• Sprinkle each round with 1 tablespoon of the remaining maple sugar, pressing it in gently.
• Prick the dough with a fork in an attractive pattern.
• Bake for 35-40 minutes, until it is golden brown around the edges.
• Remove it from the oven and loosen the edges with a heat-resistant plastic knife or table knife.
• Wait 5 minutes, then carefully turn the shortbread out onto a clean work surface, all in one piece.
• Using a pizza wheel or sharp knife, cut each round into 12 wedges (do this while the shortbread is still warm; if you wait until it is cool, it will not cut easily).
• Transfer the wedges to a rack to cool.

HAZELNUT SHORTBREAD

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350 degrees. Butter and flour two 9-inch round cake pans.
• Process nuts, flour, sugar, and salt in food processor with on/off pulses until nuts are ground to powder. Pour in butter; process with pulses until well blended.
• Divide dough in half and press firmly and evenly in pans. Cut each circle into 12 wedges.
• Bake until set and very pale tan, 20-23 minutes. Transfer to wire rack. Recut wedges and let cool slightly.
• Place plate slightly smaller than cake pans directly on each shortbread. Carefully invert and remove pans.
• Heat chocolate and shortening in top of double boiler over simmering water until smooth and shiny. Pour into narrow cup about 3 to 4 inches deep.
• Dip tip of each wedge into warm chocolate. Place on wire rack to cool until chocolate sets. Store in airtight containers.

CANADIAN MAPLE SHORTBREAD

Steps:

• Maple butter: In a small saucepan, bring the maple syrup to a boil and reduce by half (this should take about 15 minutes) Remove from heat and let it stand at room temp.
• When it is cool, add the butter and stir or gently whisk until well blended.
• Place in frigde until firm.
• This makes about 3/4 cup.
• Shortbread: In a food processor or blender, combine the maple butter, flour and salt.
• Use the pulse setting to combine well the ingredients.
• Take it out of the blender/food processor and shape it into a ball.
• Flatten it to a disc shape.
• Wrap in plastic and refrigerate until well chilled.
• Preheat oven to 350F and position rack to centre of oven.
• Remove dough from the fridge and roll it out to about 1/4 inch thickness.
• Cut dough into desired shapes (I use a maple leaf shaped cookie cutter... very Canadian, eh?) Place cookies on ungreased cookie sheet and bake until slightly golden brown (about 10-15 min, depending on your oven).