Pretzel Shortbread Cookies Recipes

PRETZEL SHORTBREAD COOKIES

Steps:

• In the bowl of a food processor, pulse the pretzels to make pretzel flour until the pretzels are sandy in texture. Add the butter and powdered sugar to the food processor and process again until creamy and smooth. Add the all purpose flour. Process again, stopping to scrape down the sides occasionally, if necessary, until a smooth dough forms.
• Sprinkle a flat counter top with additional flour to prevent sticking. Shape the dough into a ball, then drop against the counter on alternating sides to flatten and use your hands to create a brick-like shape. Try to make sure that there are not many cracks in the dough but be careful not to overwork. Wrap and refrigerate the dough until firm, about 1 hour.
• Cut the uneven sides off of the dough and slice into 1/2″ thick squares. (If the dough crumbles, leave at room temperature 5 to 10 minutes). Place the slices on a parchment or wax paper lined baking sheet and freeze until firm, at least 1 hour.
• Preheat the oven to 350°F.
• While wearing gloves, carefully combine 5 cups cold water and 4 tablespoons food-grade lye in a nonreactive bowl in a well-ventilated area. Whisk until lye fully disintegrates. Dip the shortbread, one at a time, in the lye mixture for 15 seconds, then transfer briefly to a rack set over a baking sheet to drip off excess liquid.
• Place the shortbread on an ungreased baking sheet (not nonstick!) and gently pierce with a fork. Sprinkle generously with pretzel salt. Make sure to work quickly so that the shortbread stays cold.
• Bake until golden brown and still slightly soft to the touch, about 20-25 minutes, rotating halfway through.
• Allow to cool and harden on the baking sheet, then remove with a spatula before serving or wrapping.

PRETZEL SHORTBREAD

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350 degrees. Spread pretzel crumbs on a rimmed baking sheet and bake them, stirring once, until they smell toasty (they may not darken, and that's OK), about 5 to 10 minutes.
• Pour crumbs into the bowl of an electric stand mixer to cool. Whisk in flour, sugar and salt. Place the butter cubes on top of the flour mixture and chill until everything is very cold, at least 30 minutes.
• Using the paddle attachment, beat flour and butter mixture on low speed until it comes together into a dry, crumbly dough that just holds together when you squeeze it, 10 to 15 minutes. If the dough isn't coming together in the mixer, use your hands to knead it. It will be difficult to work with.
• Line a rimmed baking sheet with a silicone baking mat. On a floured surface, use a rolling pin to roll out and press dough into an 8-by-10-inch rectangle about 3/8-inch thick. (Alternatively, you can press the dough into a quarter sheet pan with your fingers instead of rolling). Cut into rectangles approximately 3 inches by 2 inches. Transfer rectangles to the lined baking sheet. Using the tip of a slim chopstick or a fork, poke holes all over the dough, going halfway but not all the way through. Place baking sheet in freezer until dough is frozen, at least 1 hour.
• Heat oven to 500 degrees. If using baking soda for the coating, combine it in a small pot with 2 cups water and bring to a boil over high heat, stirring to dissolve. Let cool completely. Dip each cookie into the solution, letting the excess drip off, then place it back on the baking sheet. If using an egg white, whisk it with 1 tablespoon water until frothy, then brush it on top of cookies. Sprinkle the coated cookies evenly with flaky sea salt.
• Transfer baking pan to oven and immediately lower the temperature to 350 degrees. Bake until deep golden brown, 18 to 23 minutes. Transfer baking sheet to a wire rack to cool completely before removing cookies, then store them in an airtight container.

CLASSIC SHORTBREAD 101

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 300 degrees, with rack in upper third. Sift flour and salt into a bowl; set aside. Put butter into the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Mix on medium-high speed until fluffy, 3 to 5 minutes, scraping down sides of bowl. Gradually add sugar; beat until pale and fluffy, about 2 minutes.
• Reduce speed to low. Add flour mixture all at once; mix until just combined.
• Butter a 10-inch round springform or cake pan. Using plastic wrap, press dough evenly into pan. With plastic on dough, refrigerate 20 minutes.
• Cut dough into 8 wedges with a paring knife. Using a wooden skewer, prick all over at 1/4-inch intervals.
• Bake until golden brown and firm in center, about 1 hour. Transfer pan to a wire rack. Recut shortbread into wedges; let cool completely in pan. Can be stored in an airtight container up to 2 weeks.

PRETZEL-SHORTBREAD BARS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
• Line an 8 X 8 inch pan with parchment paper and spray with cooking spray.
• Pulse 1 3/4 cups pretzels in a food processor until POWDERY, transfer 1/2 cup to a bowl, DISCARD any remaining pretzel powder.
• Stir in flour and baking powder, set aside for Step 7.
• Transfer REMAINING 1 1/2 cups of pretzels to food processor and pulse a few times until coarsely CHOPPED.
• Beat butter, sugar, and vanilla with a mixer on medium speed until pale and fluffy, about 5 minutes.
• Reduce speed to low, and beat in egg yolk, then pretzel-flour mixture, until combined.
• Using spoon mix in 1/2 cup of the coarsely chopped pretzels.
• Press dough evenly into pan.
• Top dough with 1/4 cup of the coarsely chopped pretzels, pressing slightly; discard any remaining pretzels.
• Bake shortbread until pale brown and firm in the center -about 25 minutes, maybe 30.
• Transfer pan to a wire rack, and let shortbread cool for 1 hour.
• Remove shortbread from pan, and cut into 1/2 inch rectangles using a serrated knife.