Shortbread Bars 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.

BLUEBERRY SHORTBREAD BARS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Place butter cubes in the freezer for 15 minutes.
• Whisk together flour, sugar, salt, and baking powder in a large bowl. Sprinkle in Chinese five-spice powder.
• Cut in frozen butter using a pastry cutter until the butter pieces are about the size of peas. Mix in egg yolk and continue cutting in until thoroughly combined. Drizzle in ice water and stir to combine. The dough should just come together when pinched between your fingers.
• Pour about 3/4 of the crumb mixture into an ungreased 9x9-inch baking dish. Press the mixture down firmly using the back of a spoon. Spread blueberries in one layer and sprinkle with remaining crumbly dough.
• Bake in the preheated oven until the top is golden and sides are crisp and browned, 30 to 35 minutes. Cool completely before serving.

SHORTBREAD BARS

Steps:

• Line a 13x9 pan with parchment paper (or foil)
• Preheat oven to 350F
• Using an electric mixer, cream together the butter and powdered sugar until smooth.
• In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt.
• Slowly beat the dry ingredients in the butter mixture until it is fully combined and there are no lumps or dry flour in the dough.
• Spread the dough in the lined pan, patting it so that it is evenly spread across the pan.
• Prick the dough many times with a fork. Sprinkle the coloured sugar evenly across the cookie dough.
• Bake for 33-37 minutes. The edges should be starting to brown.
• Cool on a wire rack.
• Cut into small 1 inch squares. Store in an airtight container for 2 weeks or in the freezer for 2 months.

FRAN'S EASY SHORTBREAD BARS

Steps:

• Cream icing sugar and butter until fluffy.
• Combine flours and add to the butter mixture, in small portions.
• Turn batter out into a sided 15 x 9 cookie pan or jelly roll pan. Press to the sides and smooth with the back of a spoon.
• Score into bars with a sharp knife and prick the surface with a fork. Sprinkle with the 2 tbsp of sugar.
• Bake 10 minutes at 350°, then lower the oven to 300°. Bake for 30 - 40 minutes.
• Remove from oven and immediately cut along the scored lines.
• Cool, then store in an airtight container.

CLASSIC SHORTBREAD

Steps:

• Position an oven rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 325 degrees F. Butter a 9-by-12-1/2-inch jelly roll pan and line it with parchment, then butter the paper.
• Whisk together the flour, cornstarch and salt in a bowl. Beat the butter and sugar with an electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy, 5 to 7 minutes. Slowly add the flour mixture and beat on low until the dough is just combined; do not overwork.
• Transfer the dough to the prepared pan, spreading it out as evenly as possible with a spatula. Cover with plastic wrap, then use your hands to press and flatten the dough into a smooth even layer. Remove the plastic and cut the dough with a sharp knife into approximately 1-by-3-inch bars. Use a fork to prick a decorative pattern into the tops.
• Bake, rotating the pan from front to back halfway through, until golden, 60 to 70 minutes. Let stand for 5 minutes in the pan, then re-cut the bars along the previous cuts. Carefully lift the bars off the parchment with a small spatula and transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely. Store the cookies in an airtight container for up to 5 days.

MILLIONAIRE'S SHORTBREAD

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Butter 2 (8-inch) square nonstick pans and coat with flour, tapping off excess. Place the flour, sugar and salt in a food processor and pulse once. Add butter and pulse until mixture resembles peas. Press the shortbread mixture into prepared pans and bake until golden brown around the edges, about 20 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool completely.
• In a heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium-low heat, combine the condensed milk and 2 tablespoons of butter. Slowly bring the mixture to a boil, stirring continuously. Continue stirring over the heat until mixture becomes thick and amber in color, about 15 minutes. Pour the caramel over the cooked shortbread and spread evenly using an offset spatula. Cool to room temperature.
• In a glass bowl set over a saucepan of simmering water, melt the chocolate. Once chocolate has melted, pour it over the cooled caramel layer. Cool at room temperature for about 10 minutes, and then place in the refrigerator to cool completely, allowing chocolate to slightly harden but not get hard. Cut into 2-inch squares and enjoy, or store in an airtight container, at room temperature, or my favorite - keep in the refrigerator for a yummy sweet and cool treat!

MAPLE WALNUT SHORTBREAD BARS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Cut a piece of foil 8 by 16-inches. Butter the corners and sides of an 8-by-8-inch baking pan. Line the pan with the foil, leaving an overhang on two sides.
• Beat the butter and sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Reduce the speed to medium and add the egg yolk, syrup, vanilla extract and vanilla bean seeds if using. Reduce the speed to low, add the flours and salt, all at once, and beat until just combined. Add the walnuts and continue to mix until fully combined.
• Using your hands, drop the dough in pieces evenly into the prepared pan. Flour your hands lightly and press the dough together and into the corners of the pan. Put a piece of waxed paper on top of the dough and use something square and heavy-another pan, a pound of cold butter-to press the dough into the pan and make a smooth, even top. Chill until firm, about 30 minutes.
• When it is firm, use a fork to score the dough all over. Bake until deep golden brown and starting to pull away from the sides of the pan, about 45 minutes. Cool completely on a rack, about 2 hours, then wrap with plastic wrap, and let sit at room temperature overnight.
• Place a lightweight cutting board or a baking rack over the top of the pan. Flip and set on the counter. Gently pull the pan from the foil and the foil from the pan to lift off the pan. Gently peel the foil off the bar. Place another lightweight cutting board on top, and flip the bar right-side-up.
• Using a sharp, serrated knife, slice the square in half. Then slice each half into 8 bars.

BUTTERSCOTCH SHORTBREAD BARS

Steps:

• Line a 9-inch square baking pan with foil, extending foil over edges of pan.
• Butter foil; set pan aside.
• In a bowl, combine flour, 3 tablespoons brown sugar, and baking powder; use a pastry blender and cut in ½ cup butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
• Press mixture into bottom of prepared pan; bake at 350° for about 25 minutes or until golden brown.
• In a saucepan, melt the remaining ¼ cup butter; stir in sugar, brown sugar, corn syrup, water, and salt.
• Stir in cashews; bring mixture to boiling over med-high heat, stirring constantly.
• Boil, uncovered, for 5 minutes, stirring often.
• Remove pan from heat; stir in whipping cream and vanilla.
• Spread butterscotch mixture evenly over baked crust.
• Bake 12-15 minutes more or until most of the surface is bubbly.
• Cool completely in pan on a wire rack.
• Using foil, lift bars out of pan; carefully peel foil from sides of bars; cut into bars.
• To store: place in layers separated by waxed paper in an airtight container; cover; store at room temperature up to 3 days or freeze up to 3 months.

COFFEE SHORTBREAD BARS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
• Stir the instant coffee and vanilla in a small bowl until well blended; set aside.
• Mix the flour, salt and cinnamon in a medium bowl; set aside.
• Beat the butter in a large bowl with an electric mixer set at medium speed until smooth and creamy.
• Gradually add the powdered sugar, beating until well blended.
• Beat in coffee mixture, then flour mixture.
• Beat on low speed until blended.
• Press firmly into a 13x9 inch pan. Pierce the entire dough at 1-inch intervals with a fork.
• Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until the edges are slightly browned.
• Let cool for 5 minutes, then cut into bars while warm.

SHORTBREAD CANDY BARS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, using an electric mixer, beat butter, brown sugar, and salt on medium-high until light and fluffy, 3 minutes. With mixer on low, add flour in three additions and beat until combined (dough will be crumbly). Press dough evenly into an 8-inch square baking dish. Bake until golden brown and firm, 30 to 35 minutes.
• Scatter chocolate chips on top of shortbread. Bake until soft, 1 minute. With the back of a spoon, spread chocolate evenly over shortbread. Scatter candies over top. Let cool on a wire rack 30 minutes. Refrigerate briefly to set chocolate, then cut into 16 bars.

STRAWBERRY SHORTBREAD BARS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line an 8x8-inch pan with enough parchment paper to have an overhang on all sides.
• Beat butter and sugar together in a large bowl with an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Add egg and vanilla; beat until thoroughly combined. Mix in flour, salt, and baking soda until just combined. Using floured hands, press dough evenly into the prepared pan.
• Bake until edges of the crust just begin to brown, 12 to 16 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to cool for 10 minutes.
• Place sliced strawberries into a large bowl. Add sugar, cornstarch, and lemon juice. Toss to combine. Pour strawberries evenly over the crust. Place pan back into the oven and bake until strawberries have softened, 20 to 25 minutes. Let cool to room temperature in the pan.
• Place strawberry jam in a small microwave-safe bowl and heat in the microwave for 15 seconds, or until slightly runny. Brush melted jam over the top of strawberries, and allow the bars to finish cooling completely in the pan. Carefully lift bars out of the pan using the parchment edges, and cut into 9 bars. Store in the refrigerator.

KITTENCAL'S SCOTCH SHORTBREAD BARS

Steps:

• Set oven to 350 degrees F.
• Prepare an ungreased 11 x 7-inch baking pan.
• In a mixing bowl cream butter and sugar well.
• Combine flour, baking powder and salt; gradually add to creamed mixture.
• Spread into a prepared ungreased baking pan.
• Prick well several times with a fork.
• Bake for 20-22 minutes, or until the edges just begin to brown.
• Remove from oven the dust with more icing sugar.
• Cool on wire rack.
• Cut into bars.

APRICOT ALMOND SHORTBREAD BARS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°.
• Beat butter and sugar in mixer bowl until fluffy.
• Beat in egg yolks and vanilla and almond extracts.
• Mix in flour and toasted almonds until the mixture forms a soft dough.
• Divide dough in half.
• Press one half into 15x10-inch jellyroll pan.
• Spread evenly with preserves.
• Cover completely with remaining dough (flatten pieces with hands and carefully patch on top of preserve layer).
• Bake 45 minutes, or until golden brown.
• Cut into 3x1-inch bars.
• Can be made ahead.
• Wrap and freeze up to 1 month.
• Thaw wrapped at room temperature.