Saffron Shortbread Food

SAFFRON SHORTBREAD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325°F. Place saffron in a small bowl; add hot water and let stand 20 minutes. Brush an 8-inch round cake pan with butter. In a bowl, beat butter with confectioners' sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add 1/2 teaspoon saffron water and vanilla; beat until combined, scraping down sides as needed. Add flour and salt; beat until just combined.
• Pat dough evenly into prepared pan; refrigerate until firm, about 20 minutes. Crimp edges with a fork. Cut into 8 wedges with a sharp knife, and dock all over with a skewer or fork. Brush remaining saffron water over top; sprinkle with granulated sugar. Bake until firm and golden around edges, 30 to 35 minutes. Let cool slightly in pan on a wire rack, then turn out of pan, re-slice wedges with a serrated knife, and let cool completely. Shortbread can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature up to 1 week.

SAFFRON SHORTBREAD

Steps:

• Set a rack over a sauce pan of boiling was. Put the saffron in a saucer on the rack and let the saffron steam for 3 to 4 minutes or until it is brittle. Remove from steam and crumble the saffron.
• In a large bowl stir together the flour, the crumbled saffron, baking powder, salt and sugar. Blend the mixture until it resembles a coarse meal. Sprinkle the dough with the orange flower water and blend it well.
• Pat the dough into an 8 inch square bakng pan and bake in the lower third of a pre-heated 350F oven for 1 hour, or until it is golden. Cut the shortbread into squares while it is still warm, transfer the squares to a rack, and let them cool.

SCOTTISH SHARP-CHEDDAR SHORTBREAD

Steps:

• Using electric mixer fitted with whisk attachment, beat together butter, salt, black pepper, and cayenne at low speed just until blended. Add Cheddar and flour and mix at low speed just until smooth (do not overmix). Shape dough into disk, wrap in plastic wrap or waxed paper, and chill 30 minutes.
• Arrange racks in upper and lower thirds of oven and preheat to 350°F. Line 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper.
• On lightly floured surface, roll out dough to 1/4- to 1/8-inch-thick round. Using 1 1/2- to 2-inch round cutter, cut out rounds and arrange 1 1/2 inches apart on baking sheets. Reroll scraps if desired (rerolled scraps will be tougher).
• Bake shortbread until lightly golden and beginning to brown on edges, about 13 to 15 minutes. Cool on sheets 5 minutes, then transfer to racks to cool completely.

SAFFRON COOKIES

Steps:

• In a little bowl warm the milk and add the saffron strands, slightly crushing them. Set aside and let steep, the longer the better. This can be done several hours before-hand. The saffron will turn the milk a lovely sunny yellow.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Sift or whisk flour, baking soda and salt together; set aside.
• Beat butter until softened. Slowly add sugars and beat well until mixture slightly increases in volume.
• In a small bowl mix together saffron mixture, egg and vanilla. Add egg mixture to butter mixture and beat, scraping down bowl as needed.
• Add flour mixture to butter mixture gradually, stirring until flour is incorporated. Stir in optional mix-ins if using.
• Chill until firm (30-45 minute up to overnight) or be lazy and stick in the freezer for 15 minute like me.
• Drop by mounded tablespoonfuls onto baking sheet and bake 12-14 minutes. Let rest on baking sheet for a couple of minutes then transfer to wire racks to cool.

SAFFRON BREAKFAST BREAD

Steps:

• Place bread flour, milk, eggs, sugar, butter, yeast, salt, and saffron in a bread machine in the order recommended by the manufacturer.
• Program the bread machine for the dough cycle; press "Start." Mix raisins into the dough by hand after the cycle is complete.
• Divide dough into 9 pieces. Roll each piece into a log 6 to 7 inches long. Pinch the ends of 3 logs together and form a 3-strand braid. Pinch ends together at the bottom of the braid. Repeat with remaining logs to make 2 more braided loaves.
• Transfer loaves to a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, placing them several inches apart. Cover loosely with plastic wrap and let rise until doubled, about 30 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• Bake in the preheated oven until loaves are a light golden brown, about 15 minutes.