Indulge in the delightful world of almond shortbreads, a classic Scottish treat that combines the delicate flavor of almonds with a buttery, crumbly texture. These bite-sized morsels are perfect for any occasion, whether you're hosting a tea party, looking for a sweet snack, or simply craving something homemade and delicious. With three irresistible variations – Traditional Almond Shortbread, Chocolate-Dipped Almond Shortbread, and Lemon-Glazed Almond Shortbread – this article offers a tantalizing array of recipes to satisfy every palate. Dive into the world of almond shortbreads and discover the perfect balance of sweetness, texture, and flavor.
Let's cook with our recipes!
ALMOND SHORTBREADS
The word "short" in the recipe title is a promise of melt-in-your mouth tenderness. That's the butter doing its job.
Provided by Food Network Kitchen
Categories dessert
Time 1h45m
Yield 18 wedges
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Blend and pulse the 1/2 cup nuts in a food processor with the sugar until mixture resembles coarse sand. (If there are a couple small chunks of nuts that is fine.) Add the butter, vanilla and almond extracts, and the salt, and pulse until creamy. Add the flour and continue to pulse to make a soft dough.
- Turn the dough out into a 9-inch tart pan and spread it out evenly with an off-set spatula. Dip the spatula in a little warm water to help smooth and even the surface of the shortbread. Cover and freeze until firm, about 20 minutes.
- Put the tart pan on a baking sheet and dock (prick) the dough all over with a fork. Generously sprinkle the top of the shortbread with sugar. Toss the remaining whole almonds in the egg white; evenly arrange and press the nuts into the dough around the edge of the pan. Bake until golden brown and set, about 1 hour and 10 minutes.
- Cool the short bread in the pan on a rack for 10 minutes. Carefully remove the tart ring and cut the shortbread with a sharp knife into wedges, each with a nut. Cool shortbreads on a rack completely. (Alternatively present the shortbread as 1 large cookie. Cool the shortbread in the pan completely and remove the tart ring. Cut the shortbread into wedges as desired.) Serve. Store in a tightly sealed container for up to 5 days.
KOURAMBIETHES (GREEK ALMOND SHORTBREADS)
I haven't made this recipe yet. It is posted for the Zaar World Tour 2006. The cookbook I found this recipe in says that Kourambiethes are a Christmas specialty in Greece. Prep time includes 1 hour refrigeration time.
Provided by Kim127
Categories Dessert
Time 1h45m
Yield 22 shortbreads
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Gently melt the butter over low heat in a small heavy-based saucepan; without stirring or shaking the pan. Carefully pour the clear butter into another container, leaving the white sediment in the pan to be discarded. Refrigerate for 1 hour.
- Preheat the oven to 325 and line two baking trays with parchment paper.
- Grind the slivered almonds to a medium fine meal.
- In a bowl, sift the flour and baking powder together.
- Using an electric mixer, beat the chilled butter until light and fluffy. Gradually add the icing sugar and combine well. Add the egg yolk, vanilla, and ouzo and beat until just combined. Fold in the flour, ground almonds and the almond meal.
- Shape heaped tablespoons of mixture into crescents, place on the baking trays and bake for 12 minutes, or until lightly colored.
- Remove from the oven and dust liberally with icing sugar. Leave to cool on the trays for 10 minutes.
- Line a baking tray with parchment paper and dust the paper with icing sugar. Lift the warm biscuits onto this and dust again with the icicng sugar. When the biscuits are cool, dust them once again with the icing sugar before storing them in an airtight container.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 176.8, Fat 11.4, SaturatedFat 5.6, Cholesterol 29.7, Sodium 18.4, Carbohydrate 16.8, Fiber 1, Sugar 7, Protein 2.6
ALMOND CARAMEL SHORTBREADS
I don't really know where I got this recipe from, But I've had it hanging around for a while. These are so yummy, my boyfriend asks for them at least once a week. Perfect for a holiday dinner, cookie exchange, or any other party where you want to dazzle your friends/make them love you forever. I sprinkle the top of this with sea salt before I pop it in the oven, I think it adds that little extra something. I've also drizzled it with melted chocolate after they've cooled, but their so rich you really don't need it!
Provided by more snax
Categories Bar Cookie
Time 45m
Yield 32 cookies
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- For the Shortbread:.
- Preheat your oven to 350.
- prepare a 9" x 13" pan with either flour and butter, or a piece of parchment paper pressed into the pan and up the sides slightly. (I use parchment).
- Cream your butter and sugar together.
- scrape the bowl and add yolks.
- scrape the bowl again, making sure the yolks are mixed in, but don't over mix.
- Add your spices and one cup of flour, mix briefly until just combined, then add your second cup of flour.
- Your dough should be moist and clumpy, dump this into your pan and press to fit in an even layer, with your fingertips. this doesn't have to be perfect.
- Bake for 15-20 min, until just set and lightly browned at edges.
- Prep your ingredience for the caramel as you put the shortbread in the oven.
- Put everything except the almonds into a heavy bottomed sauce pan.
- when you pull the short bread out of the oven, turn the burner on medium, and heat until the mixture is bubbly and starting to brown, stirring fairly constantly. Using a heat resistant spatula is great, so you can scrape along the bottom to prevent burning. this will take 5 min or so from everything melting.
- Turn off the heat and stir in your almonds until evenly coated.
- spread the whole mixture on top of the shortbread and pop it back into the oven for another 15 to 20 minute.
- the mix will bubble in the oven, its done when the caramel starts to turn golden and the almonds at the edges start to toast.
- Let this cool for 20-30 min, then cut with a bench knife or a chefs knife. I like to cut them into triangles, but like brownies, you can go for whatever floats your boat on this end!
Tips for Baking Perfect Almond Shortbreads:
- Use high-quality ingredients: Fresh, high-quality ingredients will result in the best-tasting shortbreads. Use unsalted butter, pure vanilla extract, and finely ground almond flour.
- Chill the dough before baking: Chilling the dough helps to firm it up, making it easier to roll out and shape. It also helps to prevent the shortbreads from spreading too much in the oven.
- Roll the dough evenly: Use a rolling pin to roll out the dough to a uniform thickness. This will help the shortbreads to bake evenly.
- Cut the dough into even shapes: Use a sharp knife or cookie cutter to cut the dough into even shapes. This will help them to bake evenly and look more appealing.
- Bake the shortbreads until they are golden brown: Keep an eye on the shortbreads while they are baking, and remove them from the oven when they are golden brown. If you overbake them, they will become dry and crumbly.
Conclusion:
Almond shortbreads are a delicious and classic cookie that are perfect for any occasion. They are easy to make and can be customized with different flavors and toppings. With the right ingredients and a little bit of care, you can easily create perfect almond shortbreads that will impress your friends and family.Be sure to experiment with different flavor variations and toppings to find your favorite combination. You can also try adding chopped nuts, dried fruits, or spices to the dough for a unique twist.
With a little practice, you'll be able to make perfect almond shortbreads every time. So next time you're looking for a delicious and easy-to-make cookie, give this recipe a try.
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