Facebook Pixel

October 17, 2017

Shortbread #recipe

Scotland immediately comes to mind when I think of shortbread, and my next thought is always Christmas. It’s said that shortbread developed from a medieval recipe, with the modernized recipe attributed to Mary, Queen of Scots. Over time the ingredients changed, with butter replacing the yeast. Butter was an expensive ingredient, which meant shortbread was only baked on special occasions. Butter has become very expensive down here in New Zealand, so nothing has changed in that respect!

I tend to bake shortbread at Christmas. It’s one of my favorite biscuits to eat, a trait I fear I inherited from my father because it’s his firm favorite too.

The recipe I use comes from Jo Seagar’s Easy-Peasy Summer Entertaining recipe book.

Shortbread

Shortbread

250 grams softened butter (1.1 cup American)
3/4 cup icing sugar/confectioners sugar
1/2 cornflour/cornstarch
1 1/2 cups flour

Beat the butter and icing sugar until creamy. Mix in the cornflour and flour. Roll into teaspoon size balls with your hands. Place on a tray lined with baking paper. Flatten and press with damp shortbread mold. Bake at 150C for 25-30 minutes until the shortbread is pale but crisp. Cool on a wire rack and store in an airtight container.

Shelley’s notes:

1. The original recipe says to roll out the dough and cut out star shapes. I’ve always found the dough too soft to do this–maybe because I tend to make this recipe during the heat of a New Zealand summer–and after experimenting I’ve found teaspoon size balls work best for me.

2. If I feel in the mood for a variation with bite I add 1 tablespoon of cocoa and 1 teaspoon of chili powder just before I add the flour and cornflour. Sometimes I’ll also add chocolate chips-the small kind.

3. If you don’t have a shortbread mold, press down with a fork. Dip the fork in a cup of cold water after flattening each biscuit to avoid sticking.

Chocolate Chilli Shortbread

Here’s a photo of the Chili Chocolate Shortbread.

Are you a shortbread fan?

5 Comments

  1. Mary Kirkland

    That sounds really good. I’ve had shortbread a couple of times and it was quite good.

  2. Sharon Chalk

    Shelley,what is 1.1 cups of butter? I know its hard to translate to american but 1.1 makes no sense,would it be like 1 and 1/2 cup or more?

  3. Shelley Munro

    Mary – I adore shortbread. It’s a special treat at Christmas time.

    Sharon – The 1.1 is a direct conversion of the grams that we use in New Zealand. If I were using American measurements, I’d probably do a cup but a generous one, if that makes sense. American measurements make so sense to me. *grin*

  4. Sharon Chalk

    yes,that makes sense and I’m gonna make them some time this week,I have to get some cornstarch first,I will let you know how they work out because I would think they would taste better then the ones from the store

  5. Shelley Munro

    Homemade biscuits (cookies) always taste best. I don’t bake as much as I used to, but I still like making them myself rather than buying them.