Lorraine Bodgers Lemon Shortbread Recipes

LORRAINE BODGER'S LEMON SHORTBREAD

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
• Stir the flour and salt together. Set aside.
• In a large bowl, cream the butter, sugar and vanilla extract until the mixture is light and fluffy. Add the lemon rind and mix.
• Add the flour and salt mixture and beat until thoroughly blended.
• Press the dough into an ungreased 8-by-8-inch baking pan. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until lightly colored but not brown. Cool thoroughly before cutting into 2-by-1-inch bars.

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.

SHORTBREAD WITH LEMON CURD

Steps:

• Sift flour, confectioners' sugar, and salt together in a bowl. Press softened butter into flour mixture and combine until blended. Pat stiff dough into two 9x13-inch pans forming even layers. Pierce through dough with a fork every 1/2-inch in lines parallel to the long sides of the pans; use a clean yard stick laid across the pan as a guide to make straight rows. Chill dough until firm.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Bake in the preheated oven until lightly golden, about 11 minutes. Cut into rows using fork marks, again using a yardstick as a pan guide. Cut rows into 3-inch lengths to make fingers. Cool completely in the pan.
• Meanwhile, beat eggs in a bowl. Stir in sugar, lemon juice, melted butter, and lemon rind. Pour into the top of a double boiler set over simmering water; cook and stir until thick and smooth, 5 to 10 minutes. Cool at room temperature.
• Serve shortbread fingers with lemon curd.

LEMON SHORTBREAD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 300 degrees, with rack in upper third. Sift flour and salt into a bowl; set aside. Put butter into the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Mix on medium-high speed until fluffy, 3 to 5 minutes, scraping down sides of bowl. Gradually add sugar; beat until pale and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Mix in lemon zest and juice.
• Reduce speed to low. Add flour mixture all at once; mix until just combined.
• Halve dough, and shape into disks. Wrap each in plastic, and refrigerate 1 hour.
• Working with 1 disk at a time, roll out dough on a lightly floured surface to 1/4 inch thick. Cut out rounds with a 2-inch fluted cutter. Space 1 inch apart on baking sheets lined with parchment. Refrigerate 30 minutes.
• Bake until pale golden brown, 22 to 25 minutes. Transfer cookies to a wire rack; let cool completely. Dust with confectioners' sugar.