In the heart of Scottish tradition, there lies a culinary delight that has captivated taste buds for generations: the rich, crumbly, and utterly delectable Scottish shortbread biscuit. This timeless classic, often associated with celebratory gatherings and festive occasions, holds a special place in the realm of Scottish baking. With its simple yet elegant charm, the shortbread biscuit has become an iconic symbol of Scottish heritage and a beloved treat enjoyed by people worldwide. As we embark on a journey to explore the best recipes for traditional Scottish shortbread biscuits, let us delve into the history, techniques, and ingredients that make this delectable treat so extraordinary.
Let's cook with our recipes!
TRADITIONAL SCOTTISH SHORTBREAD
Perfectly crumbly, irresistibly buttery and wonderfully delicious, Scottish Shortbread has been a favorite treat for centuries!
Provided by Kimberly Killebrew
Categories Dessert
Time 40m
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter a 8x8 or 9x9 inch square baking pan. You can also use a round cake can and cut the shortbread into triangles.
- Place the caster sugar, flour, salt and butter in a food processor and pulse until it's combined and looks like coarse breadcrumbs but is soft and pliable and comes together in a dough when you press it together between your fingers. If it's too dry and crumbly it needs to be pulsed a bit longer. (If using any add-ins, stir them in at this point.)Pour the mixture into the greased baking pan. Use your fingers and hands to firmly press down the mixture. Note: If the mixture is too dry to work with, including pricking with a fork (see below), then it was not pulsed long enough in the food processor. Optional: Prick the shortbread with the tines of a fork, creating rows. Some people also like run a knife between each row of fork tines to make cutting the shortbread easier after it's baked. You can also prick the shortbread with a fork immediately after it is done baking while it is still warm; the holes will be more pronounced this way as they have a tendency to close during baking.
- Place the shortbread on the middle rack and bake for 30-35 minutes or until light golden and firm. Let cool. Cut and serve.Store the shortbread in an airtight container for up to several weeks. Its flavor and texture improves over time.
Nutrition Facts : ServingSize 1 shortbread finger, Calories 162 kcal, Carbohydrate 16 g, Protein 1 g, Fat 10 g, SaturatedFat 6 g, Cholesterol 26 mg, Sodium 154 mg, Sugar 5 g
SCOTTISH SHORTBREAD COOKIES
This simple three-ingredient shortbread cookie recipe makes wonderfully rich, tender cookies. Serve them with fresh berries of the season for a nice, light dessert. You'll get miles of smiles when friends see these at an afternoon tea or a bridal shower. -Marlene Hellickson, Big Bear City, California
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Desserts
Time 40m
Yield 4 dozen.
Number Of Ingredients 3
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 325°. In a large bowl, combine flour and sugar. Cut in butter until mixture resembles fine crumbs. Knead dough until smooth, about 6-10 times. Pat dough into an ungreased 15x10x1-in. baking pan. Pierce with a fork. , Bake until lightly browned, 25-30 minutes. Cut into squares while warm. Cool on a wire rack.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 244 calories, Fat 16g fat (10g saturated fat), Cholesterol 41mg cholesterol, Sodium 157mg sodium, Carbohydrate 24g carbohydrate (8g sugars, Fiber 1g fiber), Protein 2g protein.
TRADITIONAL RICH SCOTTISH SHORTBREAD BISCUITS - COOKIES
No Christmas or New Year would be the same without these delightful buttery and crisp shortbread biscuits! Plus, they are extremely easy to make and have very few ingredients. They are not low in calories, but they make a delicious treat at special times of the year. This family recipe is a tried and true, and is based on the Be-Ro cookbook recipe.....a real cookery institution in the UK! Shortbread biscuits can be made in a variety of shapes, including being pressed in a decorative wooden Shortbread Mould; when they are made in a round and cut into triangles, they are called "Petticoat Tails" and are a traditional Scottish wedding biscuit. Whatever the shape you decide to use - I have given a few ideas in the recipe - the taste will remain the same.....meltingly light and buttery. These make ideal gifts, and as they are made with butter, they last for quite a while. Pack them up in an attractive box, tin or cellaphane bag and attach a tartan bow and a sprig of heather for a true Scottish feel to them! Happy Hogmanay!
Provided by French Tart
Categories Dessert
Time 40m
Yield 16-24 Shortbread Biscuits
Number Of Ingredients 4
Steps:
- Mix the flour and sugar together in a large bowl, and then rub in the butter - as if you were making shortcrust pastry. Use the tips of your fingers and ensure that all the butter has been rubbed in -- it should resemble sand!
- Then start to knead the paste, pushing it together to form a smooth dough - the heat of your hands whilst kneading helps it form.
- Petticoat Tails:.
- Divide the shorbread dough into two equal parts and shape them into balls, then flatten them out into two rounds - using the heel of your hand, to about 7" in diameter and 1/4" thick.
- Mark the top into equal portions - triangular in shape, and then prick the tops all over with a fork - making patterns if you wish! Crimp the edges as you would a pie crust to make a decorative edge and place them onto a well greased baking tray or cookie sheet.
- (You can also use a greased and lined 7" or 8" fluted edged round sandwich/cake tin - preferably with a loose bottom for ease of taking the shortbread out. Press the dough into the tin and mark out as above).
- Shortbread fingers:.
- Roll out the shortbread dough, and shape into a rectangle, about 1/2" to 3/4" thick. Place onto a well greased baking tray or cookie sheet as before, and mark into "fingers" -- prick over with a fork again. You can also press the dough into an 8" square baking/sandwich/brownie tin - and then mark out the fingers as above.
- (Please Note: The fingers are always thicker than the petticoat tails and shortbread rounds).
- Shortbread Rounds:.
- Roll out the shortbread dough and using a biscuit or cookie cutter, cut into rounds of about 2" to 3" in diameter, about 1/4" in thickness. Place them on a well greased baking tray or cookie sheet.
- Wooden Shortbread Mould:.
- You can also place the dough into a decorative wooden shortbread mould, before turning it out on to a greased baking tray. Traditional Scottish wooden moulds can be bought online and usually have a Thistle design with heavily fluted edges.
- Bake the any of the above shortbread biscuits in a pre-heated oven 160C/325F/Gas Mark 3 for between 20 to 30 minutes, or until they are pale and golden - but NOT brown!
- Sprinkle extra caster sugar over the top as soon as they come out of the oven if you wish.
- Allow the shorbread bicuits to cool slightly on a cooling rack, before cutting into fingers or "petticoat tails".
- Allow to cool completely before storing in an airtight tin or container. NB: These will last for about 10 to 14 days in a cool, dry and dark pantry. They can also be frozen with great results!
SCOTTISH SHORTBREAD
Scottish settlers first came to this area over 150 years ago. My mother herself was Scottish, and-as with most of my favorite recipes-she passed this shortbread recipe on to me. I make a triple batch of it each year at Christmas, to enjoy and as gifts. -Rose Mabee, Selkirk, Manitoba
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Desserts
Time 35m
Yield about 4 dozen.
Number Of Ingredients 3
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 325°. Cream butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy, 5-7 minutes. Add 3-3/4 cups flour; mix well. Turn dough onto a floured surface; knead for 5 minutes, adding enough remaining flour to form a soft dough. , Roll to 1/2-in. thickness. Cut into 3x1-in. strips. Place 1 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets. Prick with fork. Bake until cookies are lightly browned, 20-25 minutes. Cool.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 123 calories, Fat 8g fat (5g saturated fat), Cholesterol 20mg cholesterol, Sodium 62mg sodium, Carbohydrate 12g carbohydrate (5g sugars, Fiber 0 fiber), Protein 1g protein.
SCOTTISH SHORTBREAD COOKIES
This is a great recipe for light and flaky cookies! My family loves them. I like to have one with a cup of coffee....
Provided by Vseward Chef-V
Categories Dessert
Time 35m
Yield 4 dozen, 48 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 3
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.
- Cream butter and brown sugar. Add 3 to 3 3/4 cups flour. Mix well.
- Sprinkle board with the remaining flour. Knead for 5 minutes, adding enough flour to make a soft dough.
- Roll to 1/2 inch thickness. Cut-out with cookie cutter. Prick with fork and place on ungreased baking sheets.
- Bake for 20 to 25 minutes.
Tips:
- Use high-quality butter. The butter is the most important ingredient in shortbread, so it's important to use the best quality butter you can find. Look for butter that is at least 82% fat and has a rich, creamy flavor.
- Work the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. This will help to create a smooth, even dough that will bake up into tender, crumbly shortbread.
- Don't overmix the dough. Overmixing will make the dough tough and dry. Mix the dough just until it comes together, then stop.
- Chill the dough before baking. Chilling the dough will help to prevent it from spreading too much in the oven. This will result in a more evenly baked shortbread.
- Bake the shortbread in a preheated oven. This will help to ensure that the shortbread bakes evenly.
- Don't overbake the shortbread. Overbaking will make the shortbread dry and crumbly. Bake the shortbread just until it is set and the edges are just beginning to brown.
- Let the shortbread cool completely before cutting it. This will help to prevent the shortbread from crumbling.
Conclusion:
Shortbread is a delicious and versatile cookie that can be enjoyed on its own or with your favorite toppings. With a few simple tips, you can make perfect shortbread at home. So next time you're looking for a sweet treat, give shortbread a try!
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