Shortbread Sampler Food

SUPER-EASY SHORTBREAD (3 INGREDIENTS)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 300°.
• Cream butter and sugar together.
• Add flour and mix till texture is like clay.
• Press dough into ungreased 9 x 13 inch pan, prick all over with a fork, and sprinkle with sugar (tilt pan to cover the top evenly, then shake excess sugar back into the sugar canister).
• Bake for about 40-45 minutes (till very lightly browned--just golden around the edges).
• Let stand for 5 minutes, then cut into 24 squares while warm.
• Leave in pan to cool thoroughly. (Shortbread will not be crisp until cool.).
• Less easy method: Chill dough. Roll into 1-inch balls, then press balls to about 1/4-inch thickness on ungreased cookie sheets with the bottom of a glass dipped in sugar (sometimes you can find a glass with a pretty design on the bottom, like a star). Bake at 300° for about 20-25 minutes (until edges are very lightly browned).
• Least easy method: Chill dough. Roll out to about 1/4-inch thickness, sprinkle with sugar, then cut with cookie cutters. Bake on ungreased cookie sheets at 300° for about 20-25 minutes (until edges are very lightly browned).
• Variation: Add 2 tablespoons dried lavender to the creamed butter and sugar before adding flour. It may sound strange, but the flavor is subtle and elegant. Food-grade lavender is usually available in herb bins at health food stores, and I recently found it at a great price from Atlantic Spice online (their Lavender #1).
• Variation: After cutting shortbread into squares (it will still be warm), scatter 1 cup of chocolate chips over the top, let the chocolate soften completely, then spread as a thin layer and let cool completely before removing from pan. (No need to sprinkle shortbread with sugar before baking if you plan to do this.).
• Variation: Stir 1 cup chocolate chips or butterscotch chips into the dough before pressing into pan. You can also try melting the butterscotch over the top, as above. In England, you'll find "caramel shortbread," which has a layer of caramel and a layer of chocolate on top of the shortbread. It's wonderful (of course!). I've tried various ways of doing this and various kinds of caramel, but it's been a while and I don't remember what works best. It can be tricky not to make a mess!

SIMPLE SHORTBREAD

Steps:

• Beat butter and sugar until fluffy.
• Blend in vanilla.
• Add 2 cups flour, 1 cup at a time.
• Roll out on floured surface; cut into 2 inch squares.
• Put on ungreased cookie sheet; prick the tops with a fork.
• Bake at 325* for 25 minutes or until top is very light brown.

SHORTBREAD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
• Line a baking sheet with greaseproof (parchment) paper. Sift the flour and rice flour into a medium mixing bowl. Add the sugar and mix.
• Cut butter into pieces and rub into the flour with your fingertips until the mixture begins to bind together. Knead into soft dough.
• Roll the dough into an 8 inch round (or for exact round, mold it in an 8 inch cake pan). Place on baking sheet. Using a fork, prick top and make tine marks along edge. Using a table knife, score top with wedge marks. (This is where it will break when cooled)
• Bake 45 minutes or until pale golden in color. Sprinkle a little superfine sugar over top and cool on baking sheet. Cut into wedges. Keeps for weeks in airtight tin.

QUICK AND EASY SHORTBREAD

Steps:

• Set the oven to 150C.
• Sieve the sugar and flour together in to a medium sized mixing bowl.
• Thoroughly mix the sugar and flour together.
• Cut the butter in to squares of approximately 2cm and add to the mixing bowl.
• Rub in the butter. It should start to look like breadcrumbs.
• Continue to rub in the butter until it reaches a gooey state.
• Grease a small baking tray and line with grease paper.
• Layer the mixture in to the greased tray and put in the oven, after 5 minutes remove.
• Then use a fork to poke hole in the mixture and outline the pieces. Continue to poke holes into the mixture until it is covered in the holes.
• Put it back in the oven for 40 minutes or until it is a pale brown colour.
• Leave it to cool and then serve.
• Tip: To make it sweeter sprinkle it with caster sugar.

SIMPLE SHORTBREAD

Steps:

• Blend sugar and salt in processor. Cut in butter using on/off turns until blended and smooth. Blend in vanilla. Add flour and process until blended but still slightly crumbly, occasionally scraping down sides of bowl. Gather dough into ball; flatten into disk. Wrap in plastic and refrigerate 30 minutes.
• Position rack in top third of oven and preheat to 250°F. Divide dough in half. Press each half onto bottom of 8-inch-diameter cake pan or 9-inch-diameter pie dish. Bake shortbread 30 minutes. Rotate pans and continue baking until cooked through and very pale golden, about 30 minutes longer. Cool in pans on racks 10 minutes. Cut each warm shortbread while still in pan into 12 wedges. Cool completely. Using thin spatula, carefully transfer wedges to platter. (Shortbread can be prepared up to 4 days ahead. Store in airtight container at room temperature.)

RASPBERRY SHORTBREAD THUMBPRINT COOKIES (AND A FOOD BLOGGER COOKIE SWAP!)

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375°F.
• In a medium bowl, cream together butter, white sugar and egg yolks. Mix in flour a little bit at a time until a soft dough forms.
• Roll dough into 1 inch balls. Place 2 inches apart onto lightly greased baking sheets. Make a "thumbprint" in the center of each cookie. Fill each hole with jam.
• Bake for 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven or until bottoms are golden brown. Cool on wire racks.