Basic Shortbread

Submitted by CobaltBlueMixer

"This buttery cookie gets better with age: It can be stored up to a month, and over that time its flavor deepens. Dip the tips of the cookies in melted chocolate for a decorative touch."

 

• Ready In: 25mins
• Ingredients: 5
• Yields: 36 bars

ingredients

• 315.37 ml unsalted butter, room temperature, plus more for pans (2 sticks plus 6 tablespoons)
• 157.80 ml sugar
• 3.69 ml salt
• 3.69 ml pure vanilla extract
• 788.55 ml all-purpose flour

directions

1. Preheat oven to 275°. Butter a 9-by-13-by-1-inch baking pan, and line bottom with parchment paper. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream butter and sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add salt and vanilla, and beat to combine. Add flour, 1 cup at a time, beating on low speed until just combined.
2. Press dough into prepared pan, leveling and smoothing the top. Using a dough scraper or the back of a knife, cut dough lengthwise into nine strips, each slightly less than 1 inch wide. Cut the strips crosswise into thirty-six 3-inch bars. Using the tines of a fork or a wooden skewer, create a decorative pattern on the surface.
3. Bake shortbread until evenly pale golden, but not browned, 70 to 85 minutes. Transfer pan to a wire rack to cool. Invert pan, and remove parchment. Turn shortbread over, and carefully break, or cut with a serrated knife, into bars. Store in an airtight container for up to 1 month.

Reviews

[ddav0962]

These are melt in your mouth fantastic shortbread cookies! I used almond extract in place of the vanilla but other than that followed the recipe exactly. Definately worth having a cookie or 6 with a nice hot cup of tea! Made for PAC Fall 09.