Mick Mcgurks Shortbread Recipes

MILLIONAIRE'S SHORTBREAD

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease a 9-inch square pan.
• Sift flour into a bowl. Rub in butter with your fingertips until the mixture resembles fine bread crumbs. Mix in brown sugar and shape dough into a ball.
• Press dough into the prepared pan. Prick all over with a fork.
• Bake in the preheated oven until set and golden brown, about 20 minutes. Let cool.
• Meanwhile, combine condensed milk, butter, and brown sugar in a nonstick saucepan over medium-low heat. Cook, stirring constantly, until caramel comes to a boil. Reduce heat and cook until golden and pulling away from the sides of the pan, 4 to 5 minutes.
• Pour caramel over cooled crust and refrigerate until firm to the touch, about 1 hour.
• Place chocolate in top of a double boiler over simmering water. Stir frequently, scraping down the sides with a rubber spatula to avoid scorching, until chocolate is melted, about 5 minutes.
• Spread melted chocolate over cooled caramel. Refrigerate until chocolate hardens, about 15 minutes. Cut into bars.

MICK MCGURK'S CHEESE BISCUITS (COOKIES)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Melt butter in a large bowl. I do this in the microwave.
• Add flour, cayenne and salt. Mix well. You can use a hand mixer at this stage.
• Add grated cheese and mix well. You may need to use a wooden spoon to mix. Please use a nice cheese that has some bite.
• Shape dough into one-inch balls.
• Roll in coconut.
• Flatten each ball slightly with a fork.
• Place on a cookie sheet and bake until golden -- about 12-15 minutes. Keep an eye on them, especially if your oven runs hot.

LAURA SHIRK'S SHORTBREAD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C).
• Cream butter and sugar together. Add flour and salt, stir until blended. Roll out 1/2 inch thick on floured board and cut into shapes with small (2 inch) cutters.
• Bake for 50 minutes. Sprinkle with sugar.

MILLIONAIRE'S SHORTBREAD

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease an 8-inch-square baking pan and line it with parchment paper so that the parchment extends up all sides of the pan.
• To make the shortbread layer: In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle, cream the butter, sugar and salt together on medium speed until a grainy paste forms, 1 to 2 minutes. Scrape the bowl and paddle. Add the egg yolk, vanilla and 1 teaspoon water and blend on medium until smooth, about 1 minute. Add the flour and mix on low until a crumbly dough forms; it will look dry and that's okay.
• Transfer the dough to the prepared pan, breaking up any large pieces to evenly scatter the dough over the bottom. Use your hand to press the dough as evenly as possible into the pan. If the dough sticks to your fingers, moisten your hand with cool water. Use a fork to prick the dough all over the surface.
• Bake the shortbread until firm to the touch and golden brown (the edges may be a bit darker than the center), 30 to 35 minutes. Cool the pan on a rack until just warm before topping with the caramel layer, about 30 minutes.
• To make the caramel layer: Stir the cream, vanilla, coffee and salt together in a medium pot, preferably nonstick. Add the butter and caramels and melt over low heat, stirring continuously with a rubber spatula, until smooth, about 5 minutes; reduce the heat if the caramel begins bubbling. Immediately pour the caramel over the warm shortbread and smooth the top. The caramel will smooth and level as it cools. Allow to cool for about 2 hours before adding the final ganache layer.
• To make the chocolate layer: Combine the chocolate chips, cream and instant coffee if using in a small microwave-safe bowl and microwave for 15 seconds. Stir about 5 seconds and continue heating in 15-second increments until smooth, 30 to 45 seconds total. Don't overcook the mixture; if small bits of chocolate remain just gently stir until they melt.
• Pour the chocolate ganache over the cooled caramel layer and smooth to the edges. Allow to set until firm, about 1 hour at room temperature or 30 minutes refrigerated.
• Use the overhanging parchment to lift the bars out. Slice into 16 squares and lightly sprinkle with flaky salt if using. The bars will keep in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.

MICK MCGURK'S SHORTBREAD

Steps:

• Thoroughly sift dry ingredients.
• melt the butter and add it to the dry ingredients.
• mix well and press into a pan.
• bake at 325-350 degrees Fahrenheit for 25-30 minutes.