Maple Walnut Shortbread Recipes

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Cut a piece of foil 8 by 16-inches. Butter the corners and sides of an 8-by-8-inch baking pan. Line the pan with the foil, leaving an overhang on two sides.
• Beat the butter and sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Reduce the speed to medium and add the egg yolk, syrup, vanilla extract and vanilla bean seeds if using. Reduce the speed to low, add the flours and salt, all at once, and beat until just combined. Add the walnuts and continue to mix until fully combined.
• Using your hands, drop the dough in pieces evenly into the prepared pan. Flour your hands lightly and press the dough together and into the corners of the pan. Put a piece of waxed paper on top of the dough and use something square and heavy-another pan, a pound of cold butter-to press the dough into the pan and make a smooth, even top. Chill until firm, about 30 minutes.
• When it is firm, use a fork to score the dough all over. Bake until deep golden brown and starting to pull away from the sides of the pan, about 45 minutes. Cool completely on a rack, about 2 hours, then wrap with plastic wrap, and let sit at room temperature overnight.
• Place a lightweight cutting board or a baking rack over the top of the pan. Flip and set on the counter. Gently pull the pan from the foil and the foil from the pan to lift off the pan. Gently peel the foil off the bar. Place another lightweight cutting board on top, and flip the bar right-side-up.
• Using a sharp, serrated knife, slice the square in half. Then slice each half into 8 bars.

Steps:

• Preheat an oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Beat the butter and maple syrup together with an electric mixer in a large bowl until smooth. Stir the flour and salt together in a separate bowl; gradually mix the flour mixture into the butter mixture until just incorporated. Form the mixture into walnut-sized balls; flatten gently and arrange onto a baking sheet.
• Bake in the preheated oven until lightly browned, 10 to 12 minutes.

Steps:

• Maple butter: In a small saucepan, bring the maple syrup to a boil and reduce by half (this should take about 15 minutes) Remove from heat and let it stand at room temp.
• When it is cool, add the butter and stir or gently whisk until well blended.
• Place in frigde until firm.
• This makes about 3/4 cup.
• Shortbread: In a food processor or blender, combine the maple butter, flour and salt.
• Use the pulse setting to combine well the ingredients.
• Take it out of the blender/food processor and shape it into a ball.
• Flatten it to a disc shape.
• Wrap in plastic and refrigerate until well chilled.
• Preheat oven to 350F and position rack to centre of oven.
• Remove dough from the fridge and roll it out to about 1/4 inch thickness.
• Cut dough into desired shapes (I use a maple leaf shaped cookie cutter... very Canadian, eh?) Place cookies on ungreased cookie sheet and bake until slightly golden brown (about 10-15 min, depending on your oven).

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Pulse walnuts in a food processor until finely ground. Transfer to a bowl, and whisk in flour and salt.
• Beat butter, sugar, and vanilla until pale and fluffy. Slowly add walnut mixture, and beat until just combined.
• Butter an 8-inch round cake pan. Transfer dough to pan. Place a piece of plastic wrap on dough, and use it to press the dough evenly into pan (this will prevent the dough from sticking to your fingers). Cut dough into 8 wedges using a paring knife. Prick all over with a wooden skewer or fork.
• Bake until golden brown and firm in center, 30 to 35 minutes. Transfer pan to a wire rack. Recut into wedges and prick again. Let cool slightly. Dust with confectioners' sugar.

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350 degrees. For crust, combine flour, sugar and salt in a bowl. Cut butter into slices, and cut in with pastry blender or 2 knives until mixture is crumbly. Press into bottom and half an inch up the sides of a 9- by 13-inch baking pan. Bake 15 minutes, or until edges begin to brown. Cool on rack.
• For filling, combine all ingredients except pecans, and mix until smooth. Pour into cooled crust. Distribute nuts evenly over top. Bake 30 minutes, or until filling is set. Cool on a rack before cutting.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line baking sheet with parchment paper; set aside. Into a medium bowl, sift flours and salt. Whisk in 1/2 cup chopped pecans; set aside.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream butter and granulated sugar on medium-high speed until smooth and light, about one minute. Add the maple syrup, egg yolk, and extract; beat on medium speed until well combined. On low speed, gradually add flour mixture, beating until just combined. Dough should be smooth and pliable. Flatten into a disk. Wrap in plastic; chill until firm, 1 1/2 hours or overnight.
• On a lightly floured work surface, roll out dough to 1/4 inch thick. Cut out rounds using a two-inch cookie cutter; place one inch apart on prepared baking sheet. Brush tops with beaten egg; sprinkle centers with remaining 1/4 cup pecans. Sprinkle the entire surface with turbinado sugar.
• Bake cookies, rotating baking sheet halfway through, until golden around the edges, 10 to 12 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool.

Steps:

• Set oven to 375 degrees.
• Prepare an ungreased cookie sheet.
• Cream butter, sugar and maple extract until fluffy.
• Sift together flour and salt.
• Add to the creamed mixture; mix well.
• Stir in walnuts.
• Shape dough into 1-inch balls.
• Place on cookie sheet.
• Bake for 12-15 minutes.
• Immediately remove with spatula.
• When still warm, but cool enough to handle, roll baked cookies in powdered sugar.