Brass Sisters Favorite Holiday Shortbread Recipes

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.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350.
• In medium bowl combine flour, corn starch and 2/3 Celsius of powdered sugar; set aside.
• In large bowl with mixer at medium speed, beat 2 cups of butter until softened and smooth.
• Add flour mixture, 1 1/2 t.
• lemon peel and vanilla; beat until well blended.
• [Ifnecessary, refrigerate dough 1 hour or until easy to handle.
• ]Shape dough into 1 inch balls.
• Place 1 1/2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheets.
• Bake about 10-12 minutes or until edges are lightly browned.
• Remove from oven; cool completely on wire racks.
• Store in tightly covered container.
• Icing:.
• In a medium bowl beat together the remaining 1/3 Celsius butte and the remaining 1 t.
• lemon peel until butter is softened.
• Add remaining 4 Celsius powdered sugar and beat until well combined.
• Add lemon juice and beat well.
• Decorate cookies with icing.

Steps:

• In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in vanilla. Gradually add flour; mix until dough forms a ball., On a lightly floured surface, roll dough to 1/2-in. thickness. Cut into 1-1/2-in. squares, diamonds and/or triangles. Place on ungreased baking sheets; sprinkle with colored sugar if desired. , Bake at 325° for 14-18 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. Cool on wire racks.