Cayenne Shortbread Recipe
🕒 Cook Time: 10 minutes
🕒 Prep Time: 20 minutes
🕒 Total Time: 30 minutes
🥢 Servings: 10-15 cookies
🔥 Calories: 338.6 per serving
🍽️ Category: Lunch/Snacks
🏷️ Keywords: Scottish, European, Spicy, Christmas, < 30 Mins, Oven, Easy
Description:
This delightful recipe, inspired by Martha Stewart’s cookbook, infuses traditional Scottish shortbread with a spicy kick of cayenne pepper. While Martha used heart-shaped molds, we opt for rolling the dough and using biscuit cutters for convenience. Adjust the cayenne pepper to your preference for the desired level of spiciness!
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter
- 8 cups all-purpose flour
- 3 tsp cayenne pepper (adjust according to taste)
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
Instructions:
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Preheat Oven: Begin by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C).
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Cream Butter and Sugar: In a mixing bowl, cream together the unsalted butter and granulated sugar until the mixture becomes smooth and creamy.
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Sift Flour: Sift the all-purpose flour into the butter mixture. Using a pastry mixer or two forks, work the ingredients until they form a crumbly yet fine mixture.
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Add Cayenne Pepper: Incorporate the cayenne pepper into the dough, adjusting the amount to your desired level of spiciness. For an extra kick, feel free to add more than the recommended 1/2 teaspoon!
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Roll Out Dough: On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough to your preferred thickness. Aim for a thickness of about 1/8 inch for a crisp texture.
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Cut Shapes: Use biscuit cutters to cut the dough into desired shapes. Traditional rounds or festive shapes are both excellent choices.
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Arrange on Baking Sheet: Place the cut shortbread shapes onto a nonstick baking sheet, ensuring they are evenly spaced to allow for even baking.
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Bake to Golden Perfection: Slide the baking sheet into the preheated oven and bake the shortbreads until they turn a beautiful golden brown color. The exact baking time may vary depending on the size and thickness of your cookies.
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Check for Doneness: To prevent overbaking, keep an eye on the shortbreads as they bake. Start checking for doneness after about 5 minutes, especially if your cookies are on the thinner side.
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Cool and Enjoy: Once baked to perfection, remove the shortbreads from the oven and transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely. Once cooled, indulge in these spicy delights with your favorite hot beverage or as a snack any time of day!
Nutritional Information (Per Serving):
- Calories: 338.6
- Fat: 18.8g
- Saturated Fat: 11.7g
- Cholesterol: 48.8mg
- Sodium: 3.3mg
- Carbohydrates: 38.8g
- Fiber: 1g
- Sugar: 10.2g
- Protein: 4.1g
Tips:
- For a festive touch, dust the cooled shortbreads with powdered sugar before serving.
- Experiment with different shapes and sizes to add variety to your shortbread presentation.
- Store leftover shortbreads in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week. Enjoy them fresh or slightly warmed for a delightful treat!
