STAMPED CITRUS SHORTBREAD

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Stamped Citrus Shortbread image

Use cast-iron cookie stamps to leave imprints on this beautifully textured shortbread, which is flavored with tangy orange and lemon zests. The stamps, which are available online, are a fun way to shape and decorate cookies without much effort. (Don't be afraid to be generous with the flour, on the cookie balls and on the stamps themselves, shaking off excess so you still get a clean imprint.) But if you don't have stamps, you can roll and cut the dough using a simply shaped cutter, or roll the dough into a log for slice-and-bake cookies.

Provided by Susan Spungen

Categories     snack, cookies and bars, side dish

Time 40m

Yield About 2 dozen cookies

Number Of Ingredients 12

2 cups/255 grams all-purpose flour, plus more as needed
1/3 cup/45 grams cornstarch
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1 cup/225 grams unsalted butter (2 sticks), softened
1/2 cup/100 grams granulated sugar
1 orange (preferably tangelo)
1 lemon
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon lemon extract
3/4 cup/75 grams sifted confectioners' sugar
1 tablespoon melted butter
1 tablespoon fresh orange juice, plus more as needed

Steps:

  • Prepare the cookies: Add flour, cornstarch and salt to a medium bowl, and whisk to combine. Set aside.
  • Combine butter and granulated sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Zest half the orange and half the lemon directly into the bowl. Reserve the lemon and orange for the glaze. Cream the butter mixture on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes. Add vanilla and lemon extracts and beat on medium speed until well combined, scraping the bowl a few times as needed.
  • Add the flour mixture to the butter mixture and beat on low speed just until combined. Scrape the bowl and fold a few times to make sure everything is well combined. Wrap dough in plastic wrap, flatten into a disk, and chill until firm, at least 1 hour, and up to 3 days.
  • Heat oven to 350 degrees. Cut dough in half and let one piece warm up for 30 minutes if it has chilled longer than an hour. Return the other half to the refrigerator. Portion the dough into pieces roughly the size of walnuts (a scant 2 tablespoons/about 35 grams), then roll each piece into a ball between your hands. One at a time, dip a ball of dough into flour and set on work surface. If dough balls soften too much, return them to the refrigerator to firm up for a few minutes. You want it cool, but malleable. Dip cookie stamp in flour, and press down on the ball of dough until it is about 1/4-inch thick. Remove stamp. (If dough sticks to stamp, carefully peel it off. Don't worry about excess flour as you will brush it off after chilling.) Trim the edges using a 2-inch cookie cutter, and transfer dough rounds to 2 parchment- or silicone mat-lined baking sheets, arranging them about 1 1/2 inches apart. Repeat with remaining dough.
  • Once you have stamped out all the cookies, knead together the scraps to make a few more. Chill in the freezer until very firm, about 10 minutes. When cold, brush off any excess flour with a dry pastry brush.
  • Bake until cookies just start to turn golden underneath, 12 to 14 minutes, switching the baking sheets from front to back and top to bottom halfway through baking time.
  • Make the glaze while the cookies bake: Zest the remaining skin from the reserved lemon and orange into a small bowl. Add the confectioners' sugar, butter and orange juice and whisk until smooth. If glaze is too thick, add more orange juice. If it is too thin, add more confectioners' sugar. It should be the consistency of thin custard.
  • Let the cookies cool for a few minutes on the baking sheets, and transfer to a wire rack set over a parchment- or wax paper-lined baking sheet. Pick up a cookie, and using the back of a small spoon, spread a generous teaspoon of glaze on a cookie, letting any excess drip onto the next cookie. Repeat until all the cookies are glazed. Cool completely. Cookies will keep in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week.

Sadam Husaain
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I'm going to try making these cookies for my next party. I think they'll be a hit.


Ajmal Shehzad
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I'm not really a fan of citrus-flavored desserts, but these cookies look so good that I might have to make an exception.


Colton Boquette
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I'm not sure I have all the ingredients for this recipe, but I'm going to see what I can do.


Uzair ali Mastoi
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These cookies look amazing! I'm going to have to give them a try.


Hassan Saeed
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Thanks for sharing this recipe! I can't wait to try it.


Gh Gs
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I'm definitely going to make these cookies again. They're a new favorite!


Tyrese Anderson
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I think these cookies would be even better with a little bit of glaze or frosting on top.


Hannah Darkwa
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The dough was a little too crumbly for me, but the cookies still held together well after baking.


Shafiq ahmed
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I had a little trouble getting the stamped design to show up clearly, but the cookies still tasted great.


tahir javed
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These cookies are a bit time-consuming to make, but they're worth the effort. They're so delicious and beautiful.


Seerculio kayn
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I've never had stamped shortbread cookies before, but I'm definitely a fan now. They're so unique and delicious.


AllahRakha AllahRakhaAD
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These cookies are the perfect gift for any occasion. They're always a crowd-pleaser.


Sohag Hossein
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I love that these cookies can be made ahead of time. It makes them perfect for busy weeknights.


Nanil Nabil
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These cookies are so easy to make, even a beginner baker can handle them.


Amjad Ullah
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I'm not usually a fan of shortbread cookies, but these ones are amazing. The citrus flavor is so refreshing.


SHAHZAD Prince
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I made these cookies for a party and they were a huge success. Everyone loved them!


Shiv Chandar Sah
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These cookies are the perfect balance of sweet and tart. The citrus flavor really shines through.


Genta Ademi
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The stamped citrus design on these cookies is so pretty. I love how it adds a bit of whimsy to the classic shortbread cookie.


Said Bacha
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I've made these shortbread cookies several times now, and they're always a hit. They're so easy to make, and the results are always perfect.


rehman samad
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These shortbread cookies are a delight! The citrus flavor is bright and refreshing, and the stamped design adds a touch of elegance. I used a lemon stamp, but I think any citrus fruit would work well.