Nutty Shortbread Cookies Recipes

PECAN SHORTBREAD

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, mix together the butter and sugar until they are just combined. Add the vanilla and almond extracts. In a medium bowl, sift together the flour and salt, then add them to the butter/sugar mixture. Add the pecans and mix on low speed until the dough starts to come together. Dump onto a surface dusted with flour and shape into a flat disk. Wrap in plastic and chill for 30 minutes.
• Roll the dough 1/2-inch thick and cut into 2 1/2-inch squares with a plain or fluted cutter (or cut into any shape you like). Place the cookies on an ungreased baking sheet.
• Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until the edges begin to brown. Allow to cool to room temperature and serve.

MIXED-NUT SHORTBREAD

Steps:

• Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 375°F.
• Stir together butter and 1/3 cup sugar in a medium bowl with a wooden spoon until combined well. Stir in vanilla, then add flour and mix with your hands just until a dough forms.
• Transfer dough to a lightly greased baking sheet and spread evenly with your fingers to form an 8-inch square. Sprinkle nuts evenly over dough, pressing down to help them adhere.
• Sprinkle remaining tablespoon sugar over nuts and bake until shortbread is deep golden, 20 to 25 minutes.
• Cool on baking sheet on a rack, 10 minutes. Cut into 18 (roughly 3- by 1 1/2-inch) bars.

PERFECT BUTTERY SHORTBREAD COOKIES

Steps:

• Line an 8-inch square pan with aluminum foil so that it hangs over the sides on two sides (this helps when it comes to removing the baked cookies from the pan).
• Mix sugar, vanilla, orange zest and the salt together. When mixing, be sure to press the zest into the sugar which releases fragrant oils. Stir in the warm melted butter until the sugar is practically dissolved into the butter. Add the flour and gently mix until a dough forms and no streaks of flour remain. It will look very shiny from all the butter.
• Use the tips of your fingers to press the dough into the prepared pan. Set aside at room temperature at least 30 minutes and up to 2 hours. Or, refrigerate overnight. (This gives the flour a chance to absorb moisture and flavor from the butter).
• Place an oven rack in the lower third of your oven and heat the oven to 300 degrees F.
• Bake cookies until set and the edges are a light golden brown, about 45 minutes. Remove the cookies, but keep the oven on. Sprinkle about a tablespoon of sugar over the top of the shortbread and let cool in the pan for 10 minutes.
• Use the aluminum foil overhang to carefully remove the shortbread from the pan. Using a heavy, sharp knife, cut the shortbread into your desired shape - we like either 16 squares or 32 triangles. As you cut, the shortbread may be a little crumbly - don't worry, just be as careful as you can when cutting. A few corners lost isn't a big deal.
• Transfer the cookies to a baking sheet lined with foil, parchment paper or a silicon baking mat. Bake for 15 minutes. Cool cookies on a cooling rack then store in an airtight container for up to a week at room temperature (or freeze for 2 to 3 weeks).

NUTTY SHORTBREAD COOKIES

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine the flour, confectioners' sugar, almonds and salt; cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in extract. Knead dough until smooth, about 6-10 times., Shape into 1-in. balls. Place 1 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets. Using the end of a wooden spoon handle, carefully make an indentation in the center of each. Fill each with a candied cherry., Bake at 300° for 30-35 minutes or until set. Cool for 1 minute before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely. Store in an airtight container.

WHITE CHOCOLATE CRANBERRY MACADAMIA SHORTBREAD COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350F.
• Cream the butter and sugar in a mixing bowl (mix together until creamy.)
• Add flour 1 cup at a time until all of the flour is well incorporated with the butter and sugar. TIP: hang a kitchen towel over the bowl to catch the flour spitting out so it doesn't get on your counter tops and floor.
• Mix in white chocolate, cranberries and macadamia nuts. The dough will be very thick as shown.
• Form 1 1/2 inch balls (flatten them if you wish) and place them on cookies sheets. NOTE: These cookies do not expand so you can place them about one inch apart.
• Bake for 10 minutes (for moist center) or until you see the edges turning brown. Cook 12 minutes if you like a harder shortbread cookie.
• Let cool on cookie racks and store in air tight containers.

MACADAMIA NUT SHORTBREAD COOKIES

Steps:

• In a large bowl using an electric handheld mixer on high speed, cream the softened butter and brown sugar together for 1 minute. The mixture should be smooth, creamy, and lightly golden in colour. Add the vanilla and mix just until combined.
• Add the flour and cornstarch and mix, starting on low speed and increasing to high speed. Beat on high speed for 30 seconds or until whipped and creamy. Fold in the chopped nuts.
• Cut an 18-inch long piece of wax paper and place it on the counter. Transfer the cookie dough to the wax paper and shape/roll into a log about 1 1/2 inches in diameter. Place on a cookie sheet or flat surface and refrigerator for 1 hour.
• Preheat the oven to 350℉. Line baking sheet(s) with parchment paper or silicone baking mats. Take the chilled cookie dough log out of the refrigerator and unwrap the wax paper. Using a sharp knife, slice the log into 1/4-1/2-inch slices. Place each slice on the prepared baking sheets, leaving 1 inch between each cookie for spreading room. Bake in the preheated oven for 12-16 minutes or until lightly golden. Let cool on the pan for 10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to finish cooling before topping with the melted chocolate.
• Drizzle melted chocolate of your choice over the fully cooled cookies. Place in the refrigerator or a cool place to allow the chocolate to firm up. Enjoy!

MACADAMIA NUT SHORTBREAD COOKIES

Steps:

• Combine the sugar, brown sugar, flour, cinnamon, and salt in the bowl of a food processor. Pulse until combined. Add the macadamia nuts and pulse a few more times to stir them in.
• With the processor running, add the diced butter until a coarse meal forms.
• Add the egg until combined.
• Turn the dough out onto a flour working surface and knead lightly until the dough forms a ball and not crumbly bits remain.
• Wrap in plastic wrap and at least an hour.
• Preheat oven to 325.
• Cut the dough in half. Working with one half at a time, roll the dough to 1/4 inch thickness.
• You can either cut the dough into squares or use some of your Nana's cookie cutters to cut festive shapes.
• Place the cookies in a baking sheet lined with a silpat. Bake at 325 for 12 to 15 minutes or until barely browned around the edges or until they're firm to the touch.
• Cool in pan 5 minutes before moving to a wire rack to cool completely.

BRAZIL NUT SHORTBREAD

Steps:

• Pre-heat the oven to 325 degrees F.
• Grind the Brazil nuts finely.
• Beat the butter until fluffy, add the sugar and beat until fluffy again--do beat adequately.
• Sift in the flours and the nuts and work to a smooth dough.
• Cover a baking sheet with parchment.
• place a 6" flan ring or tart form on the cookie sheet to use as a guide.
• Press the dough onto the sheet inside the ring to form a neat 6" inch circle.
• Remove the ring and flatten the dought slightly with a rolling pin.
• Prick the circle of dough with a fork and score it into eight wedges.
• Sprinkle with a little granulated sugar and bake for forty minutes.
• Remove from the oven and cut along the score lines and leave to cool for two minutes.
• Lift onto a rack and cool completely.
• If they don't get immediately eaten, store in an airtight container.

FRUIT AND NUT SHORTBREAD

Steps:

• Cream butter and sugar. Add yolk and flour. Cut in fruit and nuts. Shape dough into two rolls 2 inches in diameter and roll in waxed paper. Chill overnight.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• While still cold and wax paper still on, take a sharp knife and cut thin slices (1/8 inch). Set on greased cookie sheets, remove wax paper and bake for 10 minutes. (Slightly brown edges).