Prize Shortbread Recipes

SHORTBREAD COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, mix together the butter and 1 cup of sugar until they are just combined. Add the vanilla. In a medium bowl, sift together the flour and salt, then add them to the butter-and-sugar mixture. Mix on low speed until the dough starts to come together. Dump onto a surface dusted with flour and shape into a flat disk. Wrap in plastic and chill for 30 minutes.
• Roll the dough 1/2-inch thick and cut with a 3 by 1-inch finger-shaped cutter. Place the cookies on an ungreased baking sheet and sprinkle with sugar. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until the edges begin to brown. Allow to cool to room temperature.
• When the cookies are cool, place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Put 3 ounces of the chocolate in a glass bowl and microwave on high power for 30 seconds. (Don't trust your microwave timer; time it with your watch.) Stir with a wooden spoon. Continue to heat and stir in 30-second increments until the chocolate is just melted. Add the remaining chocolate and allow it to sit at room temperature, stirring often, until it's completely smooth. Stir vigorously until the chocolate is smooth and slightly cooled; stirring makes it glossier.
• Drizzle 1/2 of each cookie with just enough chocolate to coat it.

MELT - IN - YOUR - MOUTH SHORTBREAD

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• Whip butter with an electric mixer until fluffy. Stir in the confectioners' sugar, cornstarch, and flour. Beat on low for one minute, then on high for 3 to 4 minutes. Drop cookies by spoonfuls 2 inches apart on an ungreased cookie sheet.
• Bake for 12 to 15 minutes in the preheated oven. Watch that the edges don't brown too much. Cool on wire racks.

PRIZE SHORTBREAD

Steps:

• Soften butter slightly, but do not allow to become oily.
• Stir in sugar, salt, nutmeg and egg yould with a wooden spoon.
• Add the flour, a little at a time, until mixture is too stiff to work with a spoon.
• Turn onto floured board and knead lightly, drawing in flour all the time until dough just begins to crack.
• Roll out to 1/4" thickness and cut as desired. Place on ungreased cookie sheet.
• Bake at 350 for 10 minutes or until delicately brown. Dough may be sprinkled with coloured sugar or sprinkles before baking if desired.

SHORTBREAD COOKIES - PRIZE WINNING

Steps:

• 1. With electric mixer beat the margarine/butter until light and fluffy. Mix in the powdered sugar, until all blended, then the flour. Mixture will get crumbly.
• 2. Stop mixer and gather dough into a large ball. It should easily pull away from the bowl and feel soft and tender.
• 3. Sprinkle a large piece of waxed paper with a bit of powdered sugar. Set dough on paper, top with another piece of waxed paper and pat down to a flatter level. Refrigerate for about 30 minutes.
• 4. When cooled, divide into smaller sections, and roll down a section at a time between waxed paper to about 1/4" thick. Cut into desired shape with a butter knife that has been dipped into powdered sugar for ease of cutting.
• 5. Place cut cookies onto cookie sheet covered in parchment paper. I prefer air-filled baking sheets or crockery type (Pampered Chef) as opposed to teflon coated. Bake at 350 for 20 min or until edges are just golden. Teflon sheets may bake faster so watch the time.