Italian Shortbread With Almonds And Jam Recipes

ITALIAN SHORTBREAD WITH ALMONDS AND JAM

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F and set the rack in the middle of the oven.
• Have ready a 9-inch ungreased springform pan.
• Beat the butter and sugar on medium speed in a stand mixed for 3-4 minutes until very light, scraping down the sides of the bowl and the paddle from time to time.
• Add the almond extract and beat on medium speed for 30 more seconds to blend.
• In a small bowl whisk together the flour and salt.
• Add to the butter mixture and beat on low speed until blended, 30 - 40 seconds. The dough will be stiff.
• Remove 1/2 cup of dough and spread it on a small plate in a thin later; place it in the freezer.
• Press the remaining dough into the pan evenly - it can be a little higher at the edges, but the center shouldn't be elevated.
• Spread the jam evenly over the dough to within an inch of the edge.
• Retrieve the remaining dough from the freezer and crumble it over the jam.
• Sprinkle the almonds evenly over the top.
• Bake the shortbread for 40-50 minutes, or until golden brown.
• Remove from the oven and let cool completely on a rack before removing from pan.
• Cut the shortbread into serving size triangles.
• Freezes well.

ALMOND SHORTBREADS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Blend and pulse the 1/2 cup nuts in a food processor with the sugar until mixture resembles coarse sand. (If there are a couple small chunks of nuts that is fine.) Add the butter, vanilla and almond extracts, and the salt, and pulse until creamy. Add the flour and continue to pulse to make a soft dough.
• Turn the dough out into a 9-inch tart pan and spread it out evenly with an off-set spatula. Dip the spatula in a little warm water to help smooth and even the surface of the shortbread. Cover and freeze until firm, about 20 minutes.
• Put the tart pan on a baking sheet and dock (prick) the dough all over with a fork. Generously sprinkle the top of the shortbread with sugar. Toss the remaining whole almonds in the egg white; evenly arrange and press the nuts into the dough around the edge of the pan. Bake until golden brown and set, about 1 hour and 10 minutes.
• Cool the short bread in the pan on a rack for 10 minutes. Carefully remove the tart ring and cut the shortbread with a sharp knife into wedges, each with a nut. Cool shortbreads on a rack completely. (Alternatively present the shortbread as 1 large cookie. Cool the shortbread in the pan completely and remove the tart ring. Cut the shortbread into wedges as desired.) Serve. Store in a tightly sealed container for up to 5 days.

ALMOND SHORTBREAD I

Steps:

• In a large bowl, beat butter with 1/2 cup sugar and almond extract until light and fluffy. With a wooden spoon, stir in flour until smooth and well combined. Divide dough into 2 parts. Wrap in plastic and refrigerate for 2 hours.
• Preheat oven to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C).
• On lightly sugared surface, roll out dough, one part at a time, about 1/2-inch thick. Cut out cookies with a 1 1/2-inch round cookie cutter. Place on ungreased cookie sheet 1 inch apart. Make an indentation in the center of each cookie with the end of a wooden spoon.
• Bake in preheated oven until cookies are light golden brown around the edges, 25 to 30 minutes. While still warm, roll in sugar. Cool completely on a wire rack. Store in an air-tight container.