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Sweet 'n' Tart Shortbread Cookies

YumSugar — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 16:15:19 -0700

Overcome by a cookie craving, I baked up something light and summery to suit the season. These cookies are perfect for hot months when chocolate-laden desserts are too heavy. Flavored with lots of lime, these scrumptious cookies are sweet yet sour with a light, crumbly texture. The bite-sized treats are the ideal finish to a picnic or BBQ.
The recipe is simple, but be sure to bake the cookies to a light golden perfection, otherwise, the zesty lime flavor is lost to the buttery shortbread. To learn how to make these shortbread cookies with a refreshing lime twist read more!

Lime Meltaway Cookies
Modified from Martha Stewart

Ingredients

12 tablespoons (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
1 cup confectioners' sugar
Grated zest of 4 limes
3 tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
1 3/4 cups, plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1/4 teaspoon salt

Directions

In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, cream butter and 1/3 cup sugar until fluffy. Add lime zest, juice, and vanilla; beat until fluffy.
In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, cornstarch, and salt. Add to butter mixture, and beat on low speed until combined.
Between two 8-by-12-inch pieces of parchment paper, roll dough into two 1 1/4-inch-diameter logs. Chill at least 1 hour.
Heat oven to 350 degrees. Line two baking sheets with parchment. Remove parchment from logs; slice dough into 1/8-inch-thick rounds. Place rounds on baking sheets, spaced 1 inch apart.
Bake cookies until barely golden on the edges, about 8-10 minutes. Transfer cookies to a wire rack to cool slightly, 8 to 10 minutes. Place remaining 2/3 cup sugar in a resealable plastic bag. While still warm, place cookies in the sugar-filled bag; toss to coat. Bake or freeze remaining dough. Store baked cookies in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks.

Makes 6 Dozen Cookies.

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Get Your Final Fix of Strawberries With Strawberry Pie

partysugar — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 15:00:03 -0700

The other day I was going on about wanting to make strawberry pie (I saw the recipe in Gourmet's June issue) when my friend interrupted me. She pointed out that sadly, strawberry season is almost over! Determined to make the pie, I headed to my local market in hopes of finding the last of the season's berries. Lucky me, they still had some left!This pie is sweet, delicious, and surprisingly easy to make. It takes time to set and chill, so make it the night before you plan on serving it. If you want to taste this pie, make it soon, before strawberry season ends. To check out the recipe, read more.

Strawberry Pie
From Gourmet magazine

Ingredients

For crust*:
1 (5-oz) package shortbread cookies
2 Tbsp sugar
2 Tbsp cold unsalted butter, cut into pieces
For filling:
2 lb (1 1/2-inch) strawberries, hulled (see cooks' note, below)
3/4 cup sugar
1/3 cup fresh lemon juice
1 envelope unflavored gelatin (2 1/4 tsp)

Directions

Make crust: preheat oven to 350°F with rack in middle.
Pulse cookies in a food processor to fine crumbs, then pulse in sugar and butter until combined. Press crumb mixture evenly onto bottom and up side of a 9-inch pie plate. Bake until golden, about 15 minutes. Transfer to a rack to cool.

Prepare filling and assemble pie: select 20 large strawberries as close to same size as possible and set aside.
Cut remaining berries into 1/4-inch dice and toss with sugar and lemon juice. Let stand, stirring occasionally, 30 minutes.
Drain berries in a sieve set into a large glass measuring cup. Add enough water to measure 2 cups. Transfer liquid to a medium saucepan and reserve berries.

Sprinkle gelatin over strawberry liquid and let soften 1 minute. Bring to a bare simmer, stirring until gelatin has dissolved. Add diced berries then transfer to a metal bowl set into an ice bath and stir frequently until mixture begins to mound, 20 to 30 minutes.

Spoon 1/2 cup filling into piecrust and arrange reserved whole berries, stem ends down, on filling. Spoon remaining filling over and between berries. Chill pie until filling is set, at least 4 hours.

Makes 8 servings.

Make ahead: piecrust can be made 2 days ahead and kept (covered once cool) at room temperature. Filled pie can be chilled, loosely covered, up to 1 day. While not as dramatic as whole large berries, if you find juicy small berries, cut them into quarters or halves. It may take longer for mixture to set, but the pie will taste just as good.

*I prefer a thick crust, so I doubled the crust recipe.

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Come Party With Me: Tea Party - Menu (Sweet Appetizers)

partysugar — Tue, 20 Mar 2007 11:58:32 -0700

Today I am putting together a menu for an afternoon tea party. I've invited over some of my girlfriends and am praying that Saturday afternoon will be beautiful and sunny so we can sip tea and eat finger sandwiches in my courtyard patio. Tea parties, which until recently were reserved for old ladies and little girls, are making a huge comeback and modern makeover for 2007. Tea bars and tea tastings are all the rage so a tea party is timely and appropriate. Tea parties are also a sophisticated way to host a bridal or baby shower: if you are throwing one in the future, bookmark this plan to help you organize your event. I'm doing my event buffet style with an assortment of savory and sweet treats. Scones and classic tea sandwiches, puff pastries filled with chocolate and shortbread cookies round out the light, nibble-friendly menu. For the sweet appetizer recipes, read more

I've made these Petit Pains Au Chocolat for lots of my parties and they are too easy for the rave reviews they receive. The puff pastry filled with creamy chocolate is a bite sized treat and the Almond-Orange Shortbread cookies can be made in advance and baked the day of the event.

Petit Pains Au Chocolat
From Epicurious

2 sheets frozen puff pastry (one 17.3-ounce package), thawed, each sheet cut into 12 squares
1 large egg beaten to blend with 1 tablespoon water (for glaze)
4 3.5-ounce bars imported bittersweet or milk chocolate, each cut into six 2x3/4-inch pieces
Sugar

Line baking sheet with parchment paper.
Brush top of each puff pastry square with egg glaze.
Place 1 chocolate piece on edge of 1 pastry square. Roll up dough tightly, enclosing chocolate. Repeat with remaining pastry and chocolate.
Place pastry rolls on baking sheet, seam side down. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover pastries with plastic wrap and refrigerate. Cover and refrigerate remaining egg glaze.)
Preheat oven to 400°F.
Brush tops of pastry rolls with remaining egg glaze. Sprinkle lightly with sugar. Bake until pastries are golden brown, about 15 minutes.
Serve warm or at room temperature.

Makes 24.

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Almond-Orange Shortbread
From Everyday Food magazine

1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
1 cup confectioners' sugar
3/4 teaspoon almond extract
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups all-purpose flour, (spooned and leveled)
Grated zest of 1 orange, (about 2 teaspoons)
3/4 cup sliced almonds

Make the dough: In a mixer bowl, beat butter, sugar, almond extract, and salt until smooth. With mixer on low speed, add flour and orange zest; mix just until a dough forms.With a wooden spoon, rubber spatula, or your hands, gently mix in almonds.
Freeze the dough: On a piece of waxed paper, form dough into a rectangular log, 12 inches long, 2 1/2 inches wide, and 1 inch thick. Wrap log in the paper, and freeze until firm, at least 1 hour and up to 3 months. If freezing longer than 1 day, wrap log again, in plastic wrap.
Bake the shortbread: Preheat oven to 325 degrees; remove dough from freezer. (If dough has been in freezer a long time and is frozen solid, let it sit at room temperature 30 minutes so it slices without crumbling.)
With a sharp knife, cut dough into 1/4-inch-thick slices; place on ungreased baking sheet at least 1 inch apart.
Bake until edges just begin to turn golden, 20 to 25 minutes. Cool 5 minutes on baking sheet; transfer cookies to a rack to cool completely.

Makes 40 cookies.

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What would you serve at an afternoon tea? Please share with me below. Come party with me tomorrow when I discuss drinks (an essential part of a tea party!).

Jazz up Shortbread Cookies With Chocolate

partysugar — Thu, 18 Oct 2007 01:00:51 -0700

In my opinion, one can never have too many cookie cutters. They come in such a wide variety of fun shapes and sizes that I find myself investing in a new one each time I make a batch of cookies.

For this chocolate shortbread cookie recipe, I'll be getting a bat-shaped cookie cutter. A witch hat, tombstone, or black cat would be fabulous as well. Whatever shape you choose, indulge in this tasty recipe that takes the classic butter shortbread recipe and jazzes it up with cocoa powder. Get it now when you read more

Chocolate Shortbread Cookies
From Food & Wine magazine

2 sticks (1/2 pound) unsalted butter, softened
1 cup confectioners’ sugar
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2/3 cup Dutch-process cocoa
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for rolling
1 teaspoon kosher salt

In the bowl of a standing electric mixer fitted with a paddle, beat the butter until creamy. Add the sugar and beat until fluffy. Add the vanilla, then beat in the cocoa on low speed. Beat in the flour and salt; the dough will be very soft.
Divide the dough in half and place each half between 2 large sheets of parchment paper or plastic wrap. Roll out the dough 1/4 inch thick and transfer to 2 baking sheets. Refrigerate until firm, at least 30 minutes.
Preheat the oven to 350°.
Working with one piece of dough at a time, remove the top sheet of parchment and invert the dough onto a lightly floured work surface; remove the second sheet of parchment.
Using a floured 3-inch cookie cutter, stamp out cookies as close together as possible.
Transfer the cookies to parchment paper–lined baking sheets and bake for about 14 minutes, or until firm. Let cool on the baking sheets for 10 minutes, then, using a metal spatula, transfer the cookies to a rack to cool completely.
Reroll the scraps, and stamp out more cookies, chilling the scraps between batches.

Makes 2.5 dozen cookies.

Make ahead: the dough can be refrigerated for up to 3 days.

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Green Tea and Cookies

YumSugar — Tue, 09 Oct 2007 14:28:37 -0700

As a child, I wasn't really fond of shortbread cookies. After all, why would I want a boring butter cookie when there were chocolate chip cookies to be had? Yet, when I got a bit older I realized that I had spent many years missing out on the subtleties of a great shortbread cookie. The smooth buttery texture and creamy flavor really go well with a nice cup of tea. The flavor combination got me thinking, what if we went ahead and put the tea into the cookie? I've found this wonderful looking recipe for green tea shortbread and I can't wait to try it out! To get the recipe, read more

Green-Tea Shortbread
From Martha Stewart on Yahoo! Food

1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
1/3 cup confectioners' sugar
3 tablespoons Additonal confectioners' sugar
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
7 teaspoons finely ground green tea

Yield: 20 servings

Heat oven to 275 degrees F. Place two racks in the oven. Beat the butter on medium-low speed until smooth, 2 to 3 minutes.
Beat in sugar and vanilla on medium. Sift together flour, salt, and green tea. Gradually beat into butter mixture on low. Transfer dough onto a piece of plastic. Pat into 8-inch disk. Wrap with plastic; chill 1 hour. May be made a day in advance.
On a lightly floured surface, roll out dough to 1/4 inch thick; cut into 1-to- 2 1/2-inch rounds. Reroll until all dough is used. Press each round with tines of fork or bowl of spoon to create decoration. Transfer to two unlined baking sheets. Chill 15 minutes before baking. Bake 25 to 30 minutes until firm but not brown; let cool. Cookies can be made 2 to 3 days ahead, and stored in an airtight container.

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52 Weeks of Baking: Goatbread Cookies

YumSugar — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 08:58:11 -0700

Toot! Toot!
That, my friends, is the sound of me tooting my own horn. A few weeks ago I bought some of the amazing goat butter from the folks at Meyenberg and loved it so much that I wanted to use it for everything. I had eaten it on toast, over pasta and on crackers, but at some point I decided, actually make that knew that I had to make shortbread cookies with it. Nevermind the fact that I had never actually made shortbread cookies, nor actually even liked them that much, neither of those things were going to stop me - I was going to make goatbread cookies (aka shortbread cookies made with goat butter)! To see how they turned out (toot! toot! I freaking loved them) and see the recipe that I more-or-less concocted on my own, read more

Once I decided I was going to make the goatbread cookies (that name sounded best to me), I started pouring through a bunch of cookbooks in order to check out their shortbread cookie recipes. I knew that the goat butter would lend a savory quality, so I knew that I shouldn't add anything like vanilla extract and I didn't want the sugar's sweetness to over-power the goat flavor either. Ultimately I ended up taking a piece from that one (rice flour from Test Kitchen), a piece from this one (temp from Bon Appetit) and just winging it the rest of the way. The bf was worried that all the amazing goat butter was going to be wasted, and to be honest, so was I. However the end result turned out fantastic - although I think that's just a testament to how fantastic the goat butter is. The goatbread cookie was crumbly, but cohesive, had a bit of a sweetness to it, and a nice goaty aftertaste. The recipe is far from perfect, but it's definitely a good launching point. I definitely cannot wait to try more goat butter creations.

Goatbread Cookies
From YumSugar

6 oz (1 1/2 sticks) goat butter (cut into 1" cubes)
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1/3 cup rice flour
1 cup all-purpose flour

Preheat oven to 300F. Move oven rack to top 1/3 of the oven.
In large bowl, or stand mixer, whisk salt and sugar together.
Add butter, mix well. I mixed in stand mixer on medium until butter was completely blended and creamy (about 2 minutes via mixer). Note: this can be done by hand also.
Sift flour together.
Slowly (on low speed if using mixer) add flours to butter mixture. I added 1/3 at a time. Scrape sides with spatula as needed.
When flour is fully incoporated you will be left with a sand-textured mixture. Try and form a ball with your hands. If the dough is not holding together, add a few drops of water (I added about 1 tbsp). Do not add too much water. The final result should be barely cohesive.
In a 9" cake pan, lined with parchment paper or well-greased, place dough and spread out as evenly as possible.
Take another 9" cake pan (you may want to grease the bottom) and place it on top of the dough. Apply even pressure to form the dough into an even-sized disk.
Remove dough from pan and place onto baking pan lined with parchment or silpat.
Using a knife and fork, score & design shortbread (I definitely needed some help in this department).
Bake for 50-60 minutes, until edges are lightly browned and top is even golden color.

Remove from oven and let sit on pan for about 10 minutes. Cut into wedges. Note: It is extremely important to cut into wedges before it cools completely. If you wait until it cools, it will crumble.
Serve and savor!

Note: Next time I will completely skip the pan part and try my best with creating an even square by hand. Until I get really concerned with presentation (gotta master flavor first!), I think it was more of an unnecessary mess. However, if you skip this step, make sure that your goatbread has an even thickness - this way you'll ensure even baking throughout.

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Come Party With Me: Oscars Viewing - Dessert

partysugar — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 08:15:51 -0800

When creating a beautiful buffet for your Oscars viewing party, don't skimp on dessert! The stars will be devouring shortbread and chocolate truffles at the Governors Ball, so take a cue from Sherry Yard - the event's pastry chef - and make your own variations. Cut classic, buttery shortbread into Oscar shaped cookies. Arrange store bought chocolate truffles on pretty plates next to chocolate caramel sandwich cookies. For the recipes to these bite sized decadent desserts, read more.

Shortbread Cookies
From Joy of Baking

2 cups (280 grams) all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon (2 grams) salt
1 cup (2 sticks) (226 grams) unsalted butter, room temperature
1/2 cup (60 grams) powdered (confectioners or icing) sugar
1 teaspoon (4 grams) pure vanilla extract

In a separate bowl whisk the flour with the salt. Set aside.
In the bowl of your electric mixer (or with a hand mixer), cream the butter until smooth (about 1 minute). Add the sugar and beat until smooth (about 2 minutes). Beat in the vanilla extract.
Gently stir in the flour mixture just until incorporated. Flatten the dough into a disk shape, wrap in plastic wrap, and chill the dough for at least an hour.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (177 degrees C) with the rack in the middle of the oven. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
On a lightly floured surface roll out the dough to 1/4 inch (.5 cm) thick. Cut into rounds or whatever shapes you wish using lightly floured cookie cutter.
Place the cookies on the prepared baking sheet and place in the refrigerator for about 15 minutes. This will firm up the dough so the cookies will maintain their shape when baked.
Bake for 8 - 10 minutes, or until cookies are lightly brown. Cool on rack. Shortbread with keep in an airtight container for about a week or frozen for several months.

Makes about 20 shortbread cookies.

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Chocolate Caramel Sandwich Cookies
From Food and Wine magazine

For Cookie Dough:
1 1/2 sticks unsalted butter, softened
1 cup sugar
1 large egg, at room temperature
1 1/2 cups plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
Pinch of salt
For Caramel Filling:
2 1/4 cups sugar
1 3/4 cups heavy cream
1/3 cup honey
1 tablespoon light corn syrup
1 vanilla bean, split and seeds scraped
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
Chocolate Glaze:
12 ounces bittersweet chocolate, coarsely chopped
3 tablespoons unsalted butter

Make the cookie dough: In a standing electric mixer fitted with the paddle, beat the butter and sugar at medium speed until fluffy. Beat in the egg.
Sift the flour, cocoa and salt into the bowl and beat at low speed until the dough comes together, 2 minutes.
Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead 2 or 3 times. Flatten into 2 disks, wrap in plastic and chill until firm, about 30 minutes.
Preheat the oven to 350°. Line 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper.
Roll out each disk of dough between 2 sheets of plastic wrap to a scant 1/4-inch thickness. Using a floured 1 3/4-inch round cookie cutter, stamp out as many rounds as possible; transfer to the baking sheets. Gather the scraps, reroll and stamp out as many cookies as possible.
Bake the cookies for about 20 minutes, until puffed and set, shifting the baking sheets for even baking. Let the cookies cool on the baking sheets.
Meanwhile, make the caramel: Oil the bottom and sides of a 9-inch-square cake pan and line the bottom with a sheet of wax paper, long enough to reach 2 inches up 2 sides of the pan.
In a medium saucepan, stir together the sugar, cream, honey, corn syrup and vanilla seeds and bring to a boil. (Reserve the vanilla pod for another use.) Set a candy thermometer in the saucepan and cook over moderately high heat, stirring occasionally, until the temperature reaches 250°. Remove from the heat.
Remove the thermometer and stir in the butter. Pour the caramel into the prepared pan and let cool for 45 minutes.
Lift the caramel out of the pan and transfer to a cutting board. Using a 1 1/4-inch round cookie cutter, stamp out rounds of caramel and sandwich them between the cookies, pressing gently to flatten slightly. Wrap any remaining caramel bits individually in wax paper and save for another use.
Make the glaze: Melt the chocolate with the butter in a double boiler. Line a baking sheet with wax paper. Dip the cookies halfway into the chocolate glaze, allowing any excess to drip back into the pot. Set the cookies on the wax paper and refrigerate for about 20 minutes, until just set. Transfer the cookies to a plate and serve.

Makes about 3 dozen cookies.

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Chocolate Dipped Shortbread Hearts

partysugar — Wed, 14 Feb 2007 16:11:09 -0800

Last week my heart shaped chocolate strawberry ice cream sandwiches were a huge hit, so I couldn't resist giving you one last heart shaped cookie recipe for Valentine's Day: chocolate dipped shortbread hearts! I just bought a new heart shaped cookie cutter and I have to make the most of it while I can. I've been craving shortbread like mad lately and will finally satisfy my urges when I make these cookies. Although the recipe calls for dark melted chocolate I'll make a batch dipped in white chocolate as well. A domestic goddess can never have enough cookie recipes (or cookie cutters for that matter). To add this one to your collection, read more

Chocolate Dipped Shortbread Hearts
From Martha Stewart

1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter
3/4 cup sifted confectioners' sugar
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2 cups sifted all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 ounces semisweet or bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped
1 teaspoon canola oil or pure vegetable shortening

In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream butter, sugar, and vanilla until combined.
On slow speed, beat in flour and salt until combined. Wrap dough in plastic wrap; chill until firm, at least 2 hours, or overnight.
On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough until 1/16-to-1/8 inch thick. Cut out hearts with a 2-inch heart cookie cutter. Transfer cookies to an ungreased baking sheet; chill for 30 minutes.
Heat oven to 300º with a rack in the center. Press the tines of a fork into each cookie to make designs.
Bake until just beginning to brown around the edges, about 18 minutes. (Cookies will keep in an airtight container at room temperature for about 5 days.)
In the top of a double boiler or in a heat-proof bowl set over simmering water, melt the chocolate, stirring occasionally. Stir in the oil.
Dip half or one third of each cookie into the chocolate mixture. Transfer cookies to a cooling rack to dry, or place them on a piece of parchment paper in the freezer for 10 minutes. Serve.

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8 Awe-Inspiring Holiday Cookies

YumSugar — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 09:00:19 -0800

If you haven't warmed up to the holidays yet, it might be because you haven't been reminded of the delight that one experiences upon spotting a jaw-dropping Christmas cookie. Whether you're in the mood for a sugar-and-spice gingerbread house or an ooey-gooey peanut butter chocolate caramel cookie, these baked treats are sure to put you in the holiday spirit.

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My Favorite Weeks of Baking

YumSugar — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 12:15:33 -0800

This year I decided to pick a New Year's resolution that I could stick with, and that's how I ended up on my 52 weeks of baking adventure. We're 51 weeks in, and I've surprised my friends and myself with some interesting baked goods. It's definitely been a challenging experience; I've had some inventions that came out better than anticipated, as well as some downright disasters. Overall it's been a great learning experience - if a messy one, as my kitchen's been filthy for a year! - and I hope I've inspired you to get baking!

There's one more treat on the way, but until then here are my favorite six of the year. Clockwise from the top left, they are: