Spiced Shortbread Recipes

BROWN SUGAR SPICED SHORTBREAD

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
• In a medium bowl, stir together the flour, brown sugar, white sugar and cinnamon. Cut in the butter until the mixture is like fine crumbs. Pack the crumbs into a ball, then knead by hand until smooth. On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough out into an 8 inch circle. Place the circle on a baking sheet, and slice into 16 wedges. Leave the circle intact.
• Bake for 25 minutes in the preheated oven, or until the center has set. Cut the circle into wedges again while it is still warm, and transfer to a wire rack to cool.

SPICED SHORTBREAD

Steps:

• Make Classic Shortbread dough, beating 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon and 1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom with the butter. Pat into a 1/4-inch-thick square on parchment paper, then cut into 1-inch squares and chill 30 minutes. Sprinkle with cinnamon-sugar and bake 12 to 15 minutes at 375 degrees.

SPICED PECAN DATE SHORTBREAD BARS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350 degrees.
• Make the shortbread crust: Pulse flour, butter, confectioners' sugar and salt in a food processor until mixture looks like wet sand. (Alternatively, work the mixture with fingertips or a pastry cutter.)
• Press shortbread mixture into the bottom of a 9-by-9-inch square cake pan in an even layer. Bake crust for 20 minutes, until very lightly browned. Remove from oven and cool.
• Meanwhile, make the filling: In a medium saucepan, whisk together melted butter, eggs, molasses, golden syrup, cardamom, allspice, clove, nutmeg, salt, orange zest, rum and vanilla extract. Cook, stirring, over medium heat until mixture thickens slightly, about 5 minutes. Stir in dates.
• Pour filling over prebaked crust, then sprinkle pecans over filling. Bake for 30 minutes, or until filling is no longer jiggly and seems set.
• Remove from oven and cool on a rack for 15 minutes. Run a knife around the edge of pan to loosen cake, then invert pan over a cutting board to remove. Invert again and cool completely before cutting into bars approximately 1 1/2 by 3 inches.

CHAI-SPICED SHORTBREAD COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
• Grind tea into a fine powder using a spice grinder. Mix in cardamom, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cloves, salt, and pepper.
• Beat butter, sugar, and vanilla extract in a bowl using an electric mixer until creamy. Add the spiced tea mixture and mix thoroughly. Fold in flour, 1/2 cup at a time, until a stiff dough forms.
• Transfer dough to a lightly floured surface and roll out to 1/4-inch thickness. Cut into 2-inch pieces with a cookie cutter or knife. Arrange cookies on baking sheets.
• Bake in the preheated oven until edges begin to brown slightly, about 20 minutes.

SPICED SHORTBREAD COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Combine flour, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves in a bowl. Cut in butter until the mixture resembles small crumbs. Pack the crumbs into a ball, then knead by hand until smooth.
• Lightly flour a work surface. Roll dough out into a thick disc, 1/4- to 1/2-inch thick. Cut out desired shapes using a cookie cutter. Place cookies on the prepared baking sheet. Gather scraps together, roll out, and repeat.
• Bake cookies in the preheated oven until edges are lightly browned, about 20 minutes.

SPICED PECAN SHORTBREAD

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• In a medium bowl, stir together the flour, brown sugar, pumpkin pie spice, cloves, and baking powder. Mix in the butter using a fork until well blended. The dough will be flaky and separated. Stir in the pecans, and press into an 8 inch square pan.
• Bake for 25 minutes in the preheated oven, or until lightly browned on the top. Cut into squares while still warm, but do not remove from the pan. Allow to cool, then dust with confectioners' sugar.

FIVE-SPICE SHORTBREAD

Steps:

• 1. Preheat the oven to 325°F. In a small bowl, combine the ginger, cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, star anise, and sugar.
• 2. Cut the chilled log into twenty 1/2-inch rounds. Dip one cut surface of each round into the spice mixture and arrange the rounds 2 inches apart on all sides on a parchment-lined or nonstick cookie sheet or sheets.
• 3. Bake until golden brown, 15 to 20 minutes. Remove the cookies with a spatula and cool on a wire rack.