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:

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

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

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  3. 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! :)

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  4. Oooo these are right up my alley! :)

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

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

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  7. 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?

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

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

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

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  11. Those cookies look as beautiful as they are delicious!

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

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  13. 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.

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  14. 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

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  15. 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!

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

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  17. Paolina said: This is just fabulous!

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  18. 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.

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  19. 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

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  20. 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!

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

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

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  23. Is icing sugar the same as powdered sugar? Thanks

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