Shortbread cookies are tasty, crumbly and fragrant. All in all, real bliss. And the fact that it is prepared quite simply cannot but please every cook, even an amateur. The recipe for this delicious baking can and should be found through this article.
A bit of history
As you know, shortbread cookies are one of the most ancient types of baking. This delicacy began to be prepared in the 17th century in the East, but after a century it appeared in Europe and was loved by the majority of its population.
This pastry confidently took a leading position not only in the homes of street vendors, but also on the tables of wealthy citizens and even at luxurious royal receptions. Few people know that Empress Catherine II loved this delicacy very much and every morning she started with a basket of sweet shortbread cookies with strong coffee.
Now everyone can afford shortbread cookies. It can be either purchased at pastry shops or baked on its own. By the way, having prepared the pastries yourself, you can be more confident in its exceptional quality.
About shortbread cookies
Simple shortbread cookies differ from other types of baking not only in their delicate taste and pleasant friability, but also in high calorie content. But this fact does not in any way repel love for this delicacy. A large number of calories is directly related to the composition of the cookie, because it is based on a lot of eggs, sugar and fat.
The name “sand” this type of baking received for its friability into small grains. The French name “sable” is translated as sand and describes the structure of cookies exactly.
The main advantage of shortbread cookies is its easy and quick cooking. The dough for him is very obedient to work, does not "act up" and easily rolls out (even to the thinnest layer). In addition, the structure of the finished baking is very easy to change, for example, adding more powdered sugar and fat into it, it will become more crumbly, but if the dose of ingredients is reduced, then the cookies will turn out to be more dense.
Fortunately, there are many options for baking this type of treat. Indeed, honey, poppy seeds, and any kind of jam are successfully combined with it. And this allows you to experiment with its ingredients according to your own preferences.
First you need to familiarize yourself with the standard recipe for making shortbread cookies, which is prepared without eggs. Instead, you need to add a lot of butter to the dough, this will achieve high friability.
Recipe "Tasty Shortbread Cookies"
Ingredients:
- butter - 225 grams;
- sugar - 100 grams;
- wheat flour - 320 grams;
- vanilla sugar - ½ teaspoon;
- sea salt - ¼ teaspoon.
Butter should be well beaten to the consistency of sour cream. Alternately add to it all the ingredients indicated in the recipe. Mix everything thoroughly, knead the dough and form a ball out of it, which should be sent to the refrigerator for 30 minutes.
Then divide the dough into three parts, each roll out in the form of a cylinder with a diameter of 5 cm. And in order that it does not stick during rolling, the table can be covered with wax paper. Next, you need to make sure that there are no air bubbles and cracks in the test.
Pour the remaining sugar onto waxed paper, run the resulting dough cylinder in it, cut it into small circles (no more than 2 cm) and send to bake in an oven preheated to 180 degrees. Bake shortbread cookies for about 20-25 minutes, the reference point for the finished dessert should be its dark golden color.
You can also add poppy seeds or raisins to the dough, this will give the liver an additional flavor and zest. Alternatively, you can make shortbread cookies with jam. The dough for him is prepared in accordance with the previous recipe. Just before going to the oven in each cookie you need to make small indentations and add a little jam to them. Bake until golden brown. The cookies are not only tasty, but also very attractive.
Shortbread cookies will be an excellent addition to breakfast or decoration of lunch or dinner (as a dessert). Serving it is recommended with milk, tea or coffee.
This treat cannot but please even the most fastidious gourmet!