Solstice Shortbread Recipes

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.

SOLSTICE SHORTBREAD

Steps:

• 1) Preheat the oven to 325°F Lightly grease two 9" round cake pans, or two 8" or 9" stoneware shortbread pans, or a combination.
• 2) Combine the butter, salt, sugar, and vanilla in a mixing bowl, and beat till smooth.
• 3) Place 1 cup of the flour in a food processor with the crystallized ginger. Process until the ginger is finely minced; this may take up to 1 minute.
• 4) Add this mixture, with the remaining 1 1/3 cups flour, to the butter-sugar mixture. Beat until well combined.
• 5) Divide the dough in half, and press half into each pan, smoothing the surface with your fingers or a pastry roller.
• 6) Prick the dough all over with a fork; this will prevent it from ballooning up or developing air bubbles as it bakes.
• 7) Bake the shortbread till it's golden brown all over, and a bit browner around the edges, about 35 minutes. Remove it from the oven.
• 8) Loosen the edges of the shortbread from the pan, using a table knife or heatproof nylon spatula. Wait just a minute or two, then turn the shortbread out of the pan onto a piece of parchment or a clean work surface.
• 9) Use a bench knife, a knife, or (easiest) a rolling pizza cutter to cut each round into 12 wedges. Do this immediately, while the shortbread is still warm. If you wait, it'll be difficult to cut.
• 10) Transfer the wedges to a rack to cool.
• NOTE*: One reviewer suggested 'browning the butter' first.

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.

COFFEE SHORTBREAD

Steps:

• Set aside 1/4 c of your morning coffee to cool.
• Spread the ground coffee on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, bake in oven at 350 F for about 6 minutes, or until toasted. Cool to room temperature.
• Cream the butter and sugar together, then add the brewed coffee.
• Add the flour, toasted coffee grounds and chopped cranberries, if using, mixing until it is all combined. Be careful not to overwork the dough.
• Roll out the dough to a 1/2 inch thickness. Cut into any shape using cookie cutters. Place on a baking tray lined with parchment paper.
• Brush the cookies with the egg wash, sprinkle with sugar and press a dried cranberry into the center of each cookie.
• Bake at 300 F for approximately 20 minutes.