Orange Shortbread Squares Food

ORANGE-ANISE SQUARES

Steps:

• Make Classic Shortbread dough, beating the seeds from 1 vanilla bean and 1/2 teaspoon crushed toasted anise seeds with the butter. Whisk 2 cups confectioners' sugar and 2 1/2 tablespoons orange juice; spread over the finished shortbread and slice. Top with candied orange slices.

ORANGE BARS

Steps:

• For the crust: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 9-by-13-inch pan with butter.
• Stir together the flour, granulated sugar and salt in a bowl. Add the butter to the bowl and use a pastry cutter to cut it all together until the mixture resembles fine crumbs. Press into the prepared pan and bake until golden around the edges, about 20 minutes.
• For the filling: Stir together the granulated sugar and flour in a bowl. Crack in the eggs and whisk to combine. Add the orange zest and juice and mix until combined. Pour over the crust and bake until the filling is set, about 20 minutes.
• Allow to cool in the fridge for a minimum of 2 hours, then sift powdered sugar over the top before cutting into 16 pieces.

ORANGE SHORTBREAD SQUARES

Steps:

• Will need one 10x15x1 inch pan, buttered and lined with buttered parchment or foil.
• Position oven rack in the middle of oven and preheat to 325°.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with paddle attachment, combine the butter, sugar, extract, zest, and salt; beat on medium speed until very light colored and fluffy, about 10 minutes.
• Add in the flour and mix in on lowest speed.
• Remove the bowl from the mixer and use a large rubber spatula to finish mixing the dough.
• Scrape the dough into the prepared pan and with lightly floured palm of your hands, press into all corners.
• Use the back of a spoon to smooth the top of the dough evenly, if necessary.
• With the tines of a fork, pierce the dough all over at ½ inch intervals.
• Bake the shortbread for about 25-30 minutes, until it is slightly puffed and firm.
• Remove the pan to a rack to cool until the shortbread is lukewarm-not completely cooled.
• Invert the shortbread from the pan onto a cutting board, and remove the paper.
• Using a ruler to mark, then cut the shortbread into 2-inch squares.
• Store between sheets of parchment or wax paper in a tin or plastic container with tight-fitting lid; may freeze for longer storage.

ORANGE SHORTBREAD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°F.
• Blend together butter, superfine sugar, zest, and salt in a bowl with a fork. Sift flour into butter mixture and blend with fork until mixture forms a soft dough.
• Transfer dough to an ungreased large baking sheet and pat into a 10- by 5-inch rectangle. Prick dough all over with fork and sprinkle with coarse sugar (if using), pressing it gently into dough with your fingertips to adhere. Score dough crosswise with back of a knife into 6 rectangles (do not cut all the way through), then score each rectangle into 2 triangles.
• Bake shortbread in middle of oven until edges are golden but center is pale, 12 to 17 minutes. Cool on baking sheet on a rack 10 minutes, then cut into 12 triangles along scored lines while still warm. Transfer triangles with a long spatula to a rack to cool completely.

CRANBERRY-ORANGE SHORTBREAD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325-degrees F.
• Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper or spray with non-stick cooking spray (Pam) and set aside.
• In a large bowl, cream the butter, sugars together using an electric mixer on medium speed.
• Stir in flours, orange zest, cranberries, salt and vanilla beating well on medium-low speed until combined.
• Spoon dough onto prepared baking sheet, spreading well with fingers and your palm to pat dough into a 1/4 inch thick rectangle.
• Bake for 25-35 minutes or until slightly firm and edges are golden brown.
• Transfer baking sheet to a work surface and let cool 5 minutes.
• Using large cookie cutters, press a cookie cutter into dough, using various cookie cutters until all shortbread has been cut into shapes (instead of cookie cutters your can use a sharp knife to cut shortbread into 2-inch squares).
• Let cool completely and then transfer the cookies to an airtight container.
• Will keep at room temperature for up to 10 days.

CRISP ORANGE SHORTBREAD

Steps:

• Heat oven to 190C/fan 170C/gas 5. Lightly oil a baking sheet. Beat the butter, then cream it with the sugar and orange zest until light. Stir in the flour and baking powder and mix together to form a dough.
• Divide the mixture into 10 balls, arrange on a baking sheet. Press each ball fl at with the tip of a round-bladed knife. Chill for 15 mins, then bake for 12-15 mins until light golden. Leave on the baking sheet for 2 mins before releasing with a palette knife. Slide onto a rack to cool. Will keep stored in an airtight container for up to a week.

APRICOT-ORANGE SHORTBREAD BARS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325°F. Butter 9x9x2-inch metal baking pan; line bottom and sides of pan with parchment paper, extending over sides. Butter parchment. Mix preserves and orange liqueur in small bowl; set aside.
• Using electric mixer, beat 1 cup butter and sugar in large bowl until well blended. Beat in almond extract. Add flour and salt; beat just until blended. Transfer 1 cup of dough to another small bowl; add crumbled almond paste and mix with fingertips until small clumps form. Mix in 1/4 cup sliced almonds; set aside for topping.
• Press remaining dough evenly onto bottom of prepared pan. Spread preserves mixture evenly over. Using fingertips, coarsely crumble topping over preserves, then sprinkle 1/4 cup almonds over. Press topping lightly into preserves.
• Bake shortbread until top and crust edges are golden brown, about 1 hour. Cool completely in pan on rack. Using parchment paper as aid, lift shortbread from pan. Cut shortbread into 4 equal strips, then cut each strip crosswise into 8 small bar cookies. (Can be prepared ahead. Store in single layer in airtight container at room temperature up to 4 days or freeze up to 2 weeks.)