Shortbread Fingers Food

CHOCOLATE-DIPPED SHORTBREAD FINGERS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325°F
• Using an electric mixer, beat butter, sugars and salt for about 1 minute. Beat in vanilla.
• Reduce speed and add flour in 3 additions, beating just until blended. Stir in 3/4 cup chocolate chips.
• Transfer dough to an ungreased 13-by-9-inch baking pan.
• Press dough evenly on bottom of pan with your fingers.
• Bake until golden brown, about 35 minutes; do not underbake.
• Let cool for 5 minutes.
• Cut shortbread in pan, lengthwise and crosswise into quarters, then lengthwise into 32 rectangles.
• Let cool in pan.
• Melt remaining chocolate and oil in a small saucepan over low heat, stirring, until smooth.
• Dip half of each cookie into chocolate; place on wax paper.
• Let stand until chocolate is set.
• (Cookies may be made up to 4 days ahead and stored, tightly wrapped, at room temperature.).

ROSEMARY SHORTBREAD

Steps:

• Heat oven to 325 degrees. In a food processor, pulse together flour, sugar, rosemary and salt. Add butter, and honey if desired, and pulse to fine crumbs. Pulse a few more times until some crumbs start to come together, but don't overprocess. Dough should not be smooth.
• Press dough into an ungreased 8- or 9-inch-square baking pan or 9-inch pie pan. Prick dough all over with a fork. Bake until golden brown, 35 to 40 minutes for 9-inch pan, 45 to 50 minutes for 8-inch. Transfer to a wire rack to cool. Cut into squares, bars or wedges while still warm.

SHORTBREAD, 10 WAYS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 325 degrees. Pulse together flour, sugar and salt in a food processor. Add butter and pulse to fine crumbs. Pulse a few more times until some of the crumbs start to come together, but don't overprocess; the dough should be somewhat crumbly. (You can also mix the dough in a bowl using two knives or a pastry cutter.)
• Press dough into an even layer in an ungreased 8- or 9-inch-square baking pan, or a 9-inch pie pan. Prick dough all over with a fork. Bake until golden brown, about 35 to 40 minutes for the 9-inch square or pie pan, 45 to 50 minutes for the 8-inch. Transfer to a wire rack to cool. Cut into squares, bars or wedges while still warm.

QUICK SHORTBREAD FINGERS

Steps:

• Place all ingredients in a mixing bowl.
• Knead together well with fingertips (you can also mix this well in a blender)until you form a smooth, firm ball.
• Turn out onto a lightly floured board and divide into two portions.
• Roll out and trim into two oblongs, about 8 x 2.5 inches.
• Place on baking tray covered with grease-proof paper and prick with a fork.
• Bake in a moderate oven for 30-35 minutes (about 180).
• Once baked, cut into fingers whilst still warm and allow to cool on baking tin.
• Sprinkle with the rest of the sugar and seal in an airtight tin.

SHORTBREAD "FINGERS"

Steps:

• Cream the butter and sugar until smooth. Add the flour and salt and work the mixture with your fingers or a pastry blender until all the flour is incorporated. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator for 2-3 hours.
• When you're ready to bake, preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. On a lightly floured surface, roll half the dough until it's 1/4-inch thick. Using a small knife, cut out finger-sized strips, about 3 inches tall, rounding each finger at the top as shown. Place on an ungreased baking sheet. Roll and cut the second half of the dough, and place the baking sheets in the refrigerator for 10 minutes. You can gather together scraps and re-roll them.
• Bake for 15 minutes, until the shortbread is very lightly golden. Do not let the cookies brown. Remove to a wire rack and cool.
• When the cookies are completely cool, melt the chocolate chips in the microwave in a heatproof bowl for 1 minutes. The chips may look unmelted, but stir them with a spoon to see if they have actually softened before putting them in for another minute, if necessary.
• Spoon the melted chocolate into a zipper-lock bag. Seal the bag, pressing out any air. Use a toothpick to make a very tiny hole in one corner of the bag to release a thin stream of chocolate for writing. Decorate the fingers by piping a fingernail at the rounded end, and three horizontal lines to mark the joint at mid-finger. Decorate tombstones with crosses and writing as desired. Allow the chocolate to set before stacking the cookies.