Best 2 Brass Sisters Favorite Holiday Shortbread Recipes

facebook share image   twitter share image   pinterest share image   E-Mail share image

Indulge in the delectable world of Brass Sisters' treasured holiday shortbread, a timeless classic passed down through generations. Experience the magic of three remarkable recipes, each offering unique flavors and textures to tantalize your taste buds. From the traditional Scottish Shortbread, known for its rich, buttery goodness, to the delightful Chocolate Orange Shortbread, bursting with zesty orange and decadent chocolate, and the irresistible Cranberry Pistachio Shortbread, combining tart cranberries and nutty pistachios for a festive touch, these shortbread cookies promise an unforgettable culinary journey. Embark on a delightful baking adventure and create these exquisite treats that will warm hearts and spread joy during the holiday season and beyond.

Here are our top 2 tried and tested recipes!

BRASS SISTERS' FAVORITE HOLIDAY SHORTBREAD



BRASS SISTERS' FAVORITE HOLIDAY SHORTBREAD image

Categories     Cookies     Quick & Easy     Orange

Yield 32 Pieces

Number Of Ingredients 6

1 cup butter (2 sticks)
1/2 cup sugar
1/8 teaspoon salt
2 cups flour
Grated zest of 1 orange
1 teaspoon orange extract or 1/2 teaspoon orange oil

Steps:

  • Set oven rack in the middle position. Preheat the oven to 350 F. Line the bottom and sides of a 9-inch by 9-inch by 2-inch pan with foil. Grease the foil with butter or coat with vegetable spray. Add flour and salt to a mixing bowl, whisk to combine, and set aside. Cream butter and sugar in the bowl of a standing mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Add orange zest. Add orange extract or orange oil and combine. Add dry ingredients, 1/2 cup at a time, beating until completely absorbed and dough comes together. Do not overbeat or shortbread will be tough. Gently pat dough into prepared pan. (Press down the edges with tines of fork.) Prick top of dough evenly about 20 to 25 times. Bake shortbread 35 minutes. Cool on rack for about 20-25 minutes, or until slightly warm. Score shortbread with a knife into 1-inch by 2-inch pieces, but do not cut through entirely. When completely cool, cut into pieces along scored lines. The texture should be sandy and crumbly. Store orange shortbread in a covered tin between sheets of wax paper, at room temperature. Shortbread will firm up as it cools. Placing shortbread in the refrigerator will help it firm up. If the shortbread is pale, continue baking another 5 minutes, watching carefully to be sure it is not browning too quickly.

HOLIDAY SHORTBREAD COOKIES



Holiday Shortbread Cookies image

What's great about basic buttery shortbread cookies is how you can add flavors to them. Or just leave them as is.

Provided by Martha Stewart

Categories     Food & Cooking     Dessert & Treats Recipes     Cookie Recipes

Time 55m

Yield Makes 24

Number Of Ingredients 5

1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
3/4 cup confectioners' sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons coarse salt
2 1/3 cups all-purpose flour (spooned and leveled)
1/3 cup coarse or sanding sugar (optional), for decorating

Steps:

  • In a food processor, combine butter, confectioners' sugar, and salt; process until smooth. Add flour and pulse just until combined. Form dough into an 8-inch-long round or square log; wrap tightly in plastic and freeze until firm, 30 minutes (or up to 1 month).
  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees, with racks in upper and lower thirds. Cut dough into 1/4-inch-thick slices. Dip edges in sugar if desired and transfer to two parchment-lined baking sheets. Bake until cookies are golden brown around edges, 15 to 18 minutes, rotating sheets halfway through. Let cookies cool 5 minutes on sheets. Transfer to wire racks to cool completely.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 251 g, Fat 15 g, Protein 2 g

Tips:

  • Use high-quality ingredients: The quality of your ingredients will directly impact the taste of your shortbread. Use real butter, not margarine, and choose a flour with a high protein content.
  • Cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy: This will help to incorporate air into the dough, making it light and crumbly.
  • Don't overmix the dough: Overmixing will make the dough tough. Mix just until the ingredients are combined.
  • Chill the dough before baking: This will help to prevent the cookies from spreading too much in the oven.
  • Bake the cookies until the edges are just starting to brown: Overbaking will make the cookies dry and crumbly.
  • Let the cookies cool completely before storing them: This will help to prevent them from sticking together.

Conclusion:

Shortbread is a classic holiday cookie that is easy to make and always a crowd-pleaser. With its buttery flavor and crumbly texture, it's the perfect cookie to enjoy with a cup of coffee or tea. These recipes provide a variety of ways to make shortbread, so you can find one that suits your taste. Whether you like it plain or decorated, thick or thin, there's a shortbread recipe out there for everyone. So get baking and enjoy the deliciousness of this classic holiday treat!

Related Topics