Double Chocolate Ginger Shortbread Recipes

Steps:

• Use a rolling pin to mash the candied ginger into a paste.
• Use a sharp knife to slice the vanilla bean lengthwise. Separate the seeds from the outside skin by scraping the blade of the knife along the inside of the bean. Place the vanilla bean seeds, butter, sugar, egg yolks, and ginger in a medium-size mixing bowl and beat with an electric mixer on low speed until the ingredients are combined, about 1 minute. Combine the baking powder, salt, cocoa powder and flour and add to the butter mixture all at once. Beat on low speed just until combined, about 1 minute. Do not overmix the dough or it will become tough. Remove the dough from the bowl.
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• I baked my cookies in a special flexible baking sheet with dome-shaped cavities. Roll the dough into a rope that is about the same diameter as the cookie mold. Use a knife to cut each piece of dough. Press the dough into the mold. Repeat until all of the cavities are filled. Bake 15 to 20 minutes.
• To make the chocolate fans: Use an offset spatula to spread a very thin layer of tempered chocolate onto a piece of marble. Use a spatula to clean away chocolate so you are left with a rectangle shape. Let the chocolate set slightly. Place 1 hand on the handle of the cake triangle and rest your thumb on the blade of the triangle. Push the triangle through the chocolate in strips of about 2 inches. Use your thumb to catch 1 side of the chocolate to create small chocolate fans. Pinch the short side to create the handle of the fan. I colored my fans with my airbrush but you could also use a paintbrush. If using an airbrush, place a few drops of color in the airbrush.
• If using a paintbrush, mix together a few tablespoons of the cocoa butter with a small amount of powdered food color. It will be easier if you use yogurt machine to store and warm your paints. Apply color where you are inspired to do so.
• When the cookies have cooled, use a sharp knife to cut a wedge from the top of each cookie. Position the chocolate fans on top of each cookie.
• Source: Flexible baking pans - any kitchen supply store

Steps:

• Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4 and line 2 baking sheets with baking parchment. Put the butter and sugar in a large bowl and beat with an electric hand whisk for about 5 mins until pale and fluffy. Add the vanilla extract and beat again until fully incorporated.
• Sift in the flour, cornflour and baking powder, and fold into the mixture using a spatula until combined (the dough should have a tacky consistency). Spoon the dough into a piping bag fitted with a large star-shaped nozzle. If all the mixture doesn't fit, do it in 2 batches.
• Pipe 10cm long, 1.5cm wide fingers onto the baking sheets, making sure there are 3cm spaces between each finger. Bake for 8-10 mins, swapping the trays over halfway through the cooking time, until pale golden and cooked through. Leave to cool on the baking sheets for a few mins, then transfer to wire racks.
• Melt the chocolate separately over a pan of gently simmering water (making sure that the bottom of the bowl doesn't touch the water) or in the microwave in short bursts, stirring every 15 secs or so. Dip 1 end of the shortbread fingers into the bowl of milk chocolate and the other end in the white chocolate. Leave to set on baking parchment before serving.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, mix the butter and 1 cup of sugar on medium-low speed, just until they are combined. (Don¿t whip!) Add the vanilla and 2 teaspoons water and mix until combined. In a medium bowl, sift together the flour and salt. With the mixer on low, slowly add the flour mixture to the butter mixture and mix until the dough starts to come together. Add the ginger, then dump onto a surface generously dusted with flour and shape into a flat disk. Wrap in plastic and chill for 30 minutes.
• Roll the dough 3/8 inch thick and cut circles with a 2 3/4-inch plain round cookie cutter. Place the cookies on an ungreased baking sheet and sprinkle with sugar. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until the edges start to brown.
• Cool to room temperature and serve.

Steps:

• Mix the butter and sugar together with a wooden spoon. Stir in the flour and cocoa, followed by the chocolate chips - you'll probably need to mix it together with your hands at this stage. Halve the dough and roll each piece into a log about 5cm thick. Wrap in cling film and chill for 1 hr or for several days. Can be frozen for up to 1 month.
• Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Slice logs into 1cm-thick rounds, transfer to a baking tray lined with baking parchment and bake for 10-12 mins. Cool on the tray.

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350*F.
• Line an 8-inch square baking pan with foil, allowing excess foil to hang over the sides. Butter only the bottom of the pan.
• Combine flour, butter, brown sugar, ginger, cornstarch, salt in a food processor. Process for about 20 seconds, stop the machine before the mixture forms a ball.
• Press dough evenly into prepared pan. With a sharp knife score the dough making 25 squares. Prick each square two times with a fork.
• Bake 25-28 minutes, until edges are very lightly browned. Cool 10 minutes then remove from pan by lifting the foil ends.
• Cut into 25 squares using a serrated knife.
• Melt chocolate and shortening in a saucepan, stirring well. Dip cookies diagonally into the melted chocolate. Then place on waxed paper and refrigerate until firm.

Steps:

• In a small bowl, mix together flour, cornstarch and salt.
• In a large bowl, beat together butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add flour mixture, beating just until smooth.
• Stir in chocolate chips and candied ginger.
• Spread batter in prepared pan, smoothing top. Bake at 350 for 40-50 minutes.
• Let cool completely. Cut into 36 bars.
• Bars can be frozen.

Steps:

• 1. Preheat the oven to 325°F. In a small bowl, combine the ginger, cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, star anise, and sugar.
• 2. Cut the chilled log into twenty 1/2-inch rounds. Dip one cut surface of each round into the spice mixture and arrange the rounds 2 inches apart on all sides on a parchment-lined or nonstick cookie sheet or sheets.
• 3. Bake until golden brown, 15 to 20 minutes. Remove the cookies with a spatula and cool on a wire rack.

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375°F (350°F for dark or nonstick pans).
• In medium bowl, stir together Chocolate Dough ingredients until soft dough forms. In second medium bowl, stir together Gingerbread Dough ingredients until soft dough forms.
• In bottom of ungreased 13x9-inch (3-quart) glass baking dish, spoon heaping spoonfuls of Chocolate Dough 2 inches apart. Repeat with Gingerbread Dough, placing spoonfuls of dough between chocolate dough. Press dough into an even layer.
• Bake 10 to 15 minutes or until golden brown. Cool completely, about 45 minutes. For bars, cut into 6 rows by 4 rows.