Grans Scottish Shortbread Recipes

Steps:

• Beat butter with sugar, salt, and egg yolk until fluffy.
• Add flour a little at a time until mixture is too stiff to work with a spoon. (Do not use a mixer, as the dough will be far too stiff.)
• Flour a counter or board and knead the dough, pulling the flour into it, until it just begins to "crack". It's about the texture of play-doh at this point, perhaps a little stiffer. You may need a little more or a little less than 2 1/4 cups.
• Divide the dough into two balls and pat them each into a circle about 1/2 inch thick on an ungreased cookie sheet. Prick the whole thing with a fork, and use the flat of the fork to press lines around the edges.
• Bake at 350°F until brown, about 30 minutes. The center will be a pale pastel yellow and the edges will just be turning brown.
• Remove the cookie sheet and cut the shortbread while it's still hot (it gets more brittle as it cools).

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.