Praline Shortbread Squares Food

SHORTBREAD COOKIE BARS

Steps:

• Add butter to a mixer and cream until fluffy (2-3 minutes.)
• Add Powdered Sugar and mix until combined.
• Add Baking Soda with the Flour (one cup at a time) and mixed just until combined.
• Divide the dough into two equal portions. Wrap one in plastic wrap and refrigerate.
• Press half of the dough into a parchment paper-lined baking pan (we used a 7x11" Brownie Pan to have a little bit of a thicker shortbread layer but a 9x13" pan will work too.)
• Bake the Shortbread crust in an oven preheated to 325 degrees for 20 minutes.
• Remove the pan from the oven. It should be a little bit brown, just around the edges of the crust.
• Stir the jam to smooth it out and then pour it into the center of the pan. Smooth the jam over the entire cookie crust.
• Take the second portion of shortbread dough out of the refrigerator. Scatter pieces of the dough on the top of the jam.
• Increase the oven temperature to 375 and place the pan back in the oven. Cook the cookie bars for an additional 15 minutes or until the top is a light golden brown.
• Allow the cookies to cool completely before cutting into individual cookie bar pieces.

PECAN SHORTBREAD

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, mix together the butter and sugar until they are just combined. Add the vanilla and almond extracts. In a medium bowl, sift together the flour and salt, then add them to the butter/sugar mixture. Add the pecans and mix on low speed until the dough starts to come together. Dump onto a surface dusted with flour and shape into a flat disk. Wrap in plastic and chill for 30 minutes.
• Roll the dough 1/2-inch thick and cut into 2 1/2-inch squares with a plain or fluted cutter (or cut into any shape you like). Place the cookies on an ungreased baking sheet.
• Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until the edges begin to brown. Allow to cool to room temperature and serve.

LEMON SHORTBREAD SQUARES

Steps:

• Make Classic Shortbread dough, beating 1 teaspoon lemon zest with the butter. Mix 2 cups confectioners' sugar with the zest and juice of 1 lemon. Spread over the finished shortbread and sprinkle with yellow decorating sugar. Slice into squares.

CARAMEL SHORTBREAD SQUARES

Steps:

• Mix 2/3 cup butter, 1/4 cup sugar& 1 1/4 cups flour until the mixture is crumbly.
• Pat into a 9" pan.
• Bake at 350F for 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile bring the caramel ingredients to a boil and boil for 5 minutes then pour over the shortbread base.
• Cool.
• Melt chocolate in a double boiler and pour over the cooled caramel shortbread Cool- cut into small squares.