Tuscan Rosemary and Pine Nut Bars

Submitted by Epi Curious

"From Melanie Barnard, author of "Short and Sweet"...found this recipe in The Best American Recipes 2000". These make a cookie like shortbread and the contrast of the savory rosemary with the shortbread is incredible. A friend went nuts over these the first time I made them and then spent an entire weekend baking a huge batch for Christmas treats for her friends and family. This is a love/hate thing - if you love rosemary and shortbread, these are a MUST try...but not for you if you are fussy about adding anything to your shortbread...These are probably a bit sophisticated for a kid's palate...but your women friends will LOVE them."

 

• Ready In: 20mins
• Ingredients: 5
• Yields: 16 COOKIES

ingredients

• 1⁄4 cup pine nuts
• 8 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into 10 pieces
• 1⁄2 cup confectioners' sugar
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary
• 1 cup all-purpose flour

directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Place a rack at the middle level.
2. Spread the pine nuts on a cookie sheet and place in the oven. Toast, stirring once or twice to prevent burning, until they are a shade darker and fragrant, about 5 minutes. Watch carefully; pine nuts burn easily. Remove from the cookie sheet and set aside.
3. Meanwhile, in a medium saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Remove from the heat and stir in the confectioner's sugar, rosemary and pine nuts. Then stir in the flour to make a stiff dough.
4. Spread and pat the dough evenly into an ungreased 8-inch square baking pan. bake until the bars are golden and firm at the edges, about 20 minutes. Cool the pan on a rack for about 2 minutes, then use a sharp knife to cut into 16 squares. Let the bars cool in the pan for at least 10 minutes before removing them with a small spatula. The bars can be stored, tightly covered, for up to 5 days, or frozen for 1 month.

Reviews

[Mia in Germany]

Delicious! What a gem this is. Rosemary and pine nuts go together so well, and neither the sugar nor the nuts nor the rosemary dominates. Wonderfully flavoured shortbread, something really special. Thanks for posting this! Made for Let's PARTY December 2009.