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Shortbreads are traditionally a Christmas cookie made with just four
ingredients, butter, sugar, vanilla extract, and flour. They are a rich cookie
with a delicate buttery flavor. These cookies freeze very well so they are the
perfect cookie to make for the holiday season.
Shortbread dough is
very versatile. You can add about
1/2 cup (90 grams) of chocolate chips to make chocolate chip
shortbread, or add 1 tablespoon of
instant espresso powder for a coffee favor. All it takes to have a cinnamon
flavored shortbread is to add 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, or
1 tablespoon of finely chopped orange or lemon zest will give you
a nice citrus flavored shortbread. The
texture of shortbread can also be changed by replacing 1/4 cup (35 grams) of the
all purpose flour with rice flour which gives the shortbread a slightly crunchy texture. Or, for
a more delicate tasting shortbread, with a melt-in-your-mouth texture, replace
1/2 cup (65 grams) of the all purpose flour with cornstarch (corn flour). Shortbreads
can be cut into various shapes using your favorite cookie cutter, baked in a
tart pan, or baked in a rectangular pan and then cut into shortbread "fingers". If you like, sprinkle the baked cookies with
granulated white sugar or dip the ends of the shortbread in melted chocolate. The variations are endless but all produce a wonderful tasting cookie that is
perfect any time of the day.
The secret to making good shortbread is to use a high quality butter and pure
vanilla extract. Butter in the States is
graded according to flavor, color, texture, aroma and body and one easy way to tell the
quality of the butter is by the letter code or numerical number listed on the
butter's package. The highest grade is AA (93 score), then A (92 score),
followed by B (90 score). Buying vanilla extract can also be a challenge
as there are so many choices. The first
thing to do is to make sure that it is labeled "pure". The
best I have found, although it is quite expensive, is Nielsen-Massey Madagascar
Bourbon Pure Vanilla Extract that can be found in specialty food stores and by
mail order. If your budget doesn't allow this expenditure or you cannot
find it, don't worry, there are quality brands to be found in your local grocery
store. Just stay away from the ones labeled "imitation" vanilla extracts
as they are made with synthetic
vanilla (from glycoside found in the sapwood of certain conifers or from coal
extracts) and leave a bitter aftertaste.
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