Friday, January 15, 2010

Lemon shortbread

Lemon shortbread / Shortbread de limão siciliano

If you take a look at my now organized bookshelf – I’m so proud of myself! – will see that every single book and magazine have several bookmarked pages; a closer look and you’ll see that most of those pages hold citrus recipes – what can I do? If there are lemons, limes or oranges involved, I’m in.

My obsessions are not restricted to food, only – ask my husband how he feels about watching “Eastern Promises” once again. :)

Lemon shortbread / Shortbread de limão siciliano

Lemon shortbread
from Donna Hay magazine

2/3 cup (150g) unsalted butter, softened
1/3 cup + 1 tablespoon (55g) icing sugar, sifted
¼ cup (60ml) lemon juice
finely grated zest of 2 lemons
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 ¾ cups + 1 tablespoon (255g) all purpose flour, sifted
2 tablespoons corn starch, sifted
2/3 cup (94g) icing sugar, extra, sifted

Place the butter and icing sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer and beat for 8 minutes or until pale and creamy. Add the lemon juice, zest and vanilla and beat until combined. Add the flour and corn starch and beat just until a smooth dough forms. Turn dough onto a lightly floured surface and divide in half. Place each half onto a large piece of baking paper form into a 20cm (8in) long log. Wrap well in the paper and refrigerate for 1 ½ hours or until firm.
Preheat the oven to 180°C/350°F. Line two large baking sheets with baking paper.
Unwrap one of the dough logs (keep the other in the fridge) and slice it into 1cm-thick rounds. Place onto the prepared baking sheets 5cm (2in) apart and bake for 15-18 minutes or until light golden. Remove from the oven and cool in the sheets for 5 minutes.
Gently toss the warm shortbreads in the extra icing sugar and allow to cool completely on wire racks.

Makes 40 – I got 38

24 comments:

pam said...

Congrats on your organization skills. Please pass some my way. Along with some of this shortbread.

Meeta K. Wolff said...

i always have loved the wonderful texture of shortbread - in all flavors and this is perfect! could do with a few now!

LyB said...

Those cookies look melt-in-your-mouth delicious! I so need to get my books/magazines organized, I have so many, but I still keep buying more! I can't help it, those magazine covers just call out to me! :)

Valerie Gamine said...

Oooo these are right up my alley! :)

Anna said...

Wow Patricia, I loved your site, the pictures are lovely.
And this lemon shortbread looks delicious.

MaryMoh said...

Lovely shortbreads. I love the lemony smell. Would be so nice with a hot cup of tea right now. Thanks for sharing.

Cookie baker Lynn said...

Congratulations to you on getting all organized! That's on my to-do list - always. Why say no to citrus when it's so wonderful? Especially in these beautiful, dainty cookies?

Lisa said...

Congrats on the organization! These lemon shortbread cookies look fantastic. Love the feel of that first photo above too. These are perfect.

Katie said...

These look divine, like they would just melt in your mouth. I have given you an award. Please visit my blog for details

natalie said...

these look nice, I m imagining their taste and smell :)

Half Baked said...

Those cookies look as beautiful as they are delicious!

poppyseed said...

Mmmmm. I love lemon. And they're so cute in that blue box.

Lydia (The Perfect Pantry) said...

I agree. At this time of year, the flavor of citrus is such a welcome relief in mid-winter here in North America. The shortbread looks delicious.

Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella said...

Haha snap! Great minds think alike Patricia. Gorgeous styling on these and I love the dusting of sugar! Ahh I've seen that movie! :P

Patricia Scarpin said...

Pam, I had a laugh with you now, darling. ;)

Meeta, these are melt-in-your-mouth kind of cookies, I really like their texture!

Lynne, they are! I would love to help you organize, sweetie! ;)
And I keep on buying more things, too - I'm helpless! ;)

Valerina, thank you!

Anna, thank you for stopping by!

MaryMoh, thank you for visiting!

Lynn, tks, sweetie! Citrus flavors are the best, aren't they? ;)

Lisa, thank you - I'm glad you like the photo!

Katie, I love their texture, too - I'll be checking your blog out now, thank you, darling!

Natalie, thank you for stopping by!

Half Baked, thank you!

Poppy Seed, thank you! I'm in love with that box. ;)

Lydia, I can't imagine how hard it must be for you with all that cold, sweetie.

Lorraine, yes! You are right, my dear!
That is one of my all time favorite movies - love, love, love both Cronenberg and Viggo!

tasteofbeirut said...

I love the flavor of lemon shortbreads the most! Something about that tangy lemon flavor ..

Anonymous said...

Paolina said: This is just fabulous!

Patricia Scarpin said...

Paolina, thank you!

Linda said...

Your blog is lovely! I think I've decided on this recipe for a cookie swap I'm participating in this year! I'm with you - lemon or citrus flavors are my favorites! I love shortbread and how easy it is to make so....thanks for posting this.

sheri said...

Loved the recipe for English Lemon Shortbread! Plan to make it for my cookie exchange.
Is your blog still active?
Please reply.
Thank you.
Sheri DeLoach
sherideloach@gmail.com

Joyfull said...

The flavor is great with these cookies! I prefer a sweeter cookie. I added extra sugar in the recipe and would even add more. About 1/3 to 1/2 cup more would make me a little happier I think. I made them today. Thanks for sharing!

Patricia Scarpin said...

Joyfull, thank YOU for letting me know how the cookies turned out!

jdyhnt said...

I'm making these today. I can't wait to taste them!

Denise said...

Is icing sugar the same as powdered sugar? Thanks

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