Monday, September 20, 2010

London Fog Shortbread



There are several cookie recipes I’ve had written out for awhile and never got around to posting, so please try to bear with me this week while I catch up. This one is a tender, buttery interpretation of my favorite drink. Vanilla and Earl Grey tea perfume this beautiful shortbread.

London Fog Shortbread Printer Version
This shortbread needs to rest in the refrigerator and bake three separate times, but it’s worth it! You’ll also need a food processor, or a coffee grinder to grind the up the tea beforehand if you don’t have one.

1 3/4 cups unbleached all-purpose flour, plus more for kneading
1/2 cup cornstarch
1 tablespoon loose leaf Earl Grey Tea
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
1/2 cup Ultrafine Baker’s Sugar (found near the other sugars)
1 tablespoon real vanilla extract

1. Line a 9” square baking pan with foil.

2. Place the all-purpose flour, cornstarch, tea and salt in a food processor and process for about 1 minute seconds until tea is well ground. Move the flour mixture to a separate bowl and set aside.

3. Place the butter, super fine sugar and vanilla extract in the food processor and process until light and fluffy. Add half of the flour mixture back in and process until combined. Add the other half of the flour mixture and process just until almost wet looking but not combined.

4. Turn the batter out onto a clean surface and flour lightly if too sticky to handle. Knead dough just until smooth. Press the dough into the baking pan and smooth with the back of a dough scraper.

5. Let the dough rest in the refrigerator for 2 or more hours. After resting, place the oven rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 300 degrees.

6. Bake One: Bake the shortbread for 55 minutes. Let rest for about 5 minutes then cut into squares in the pan with the dough scraper. Leave the shortbread in the pan and the oven on during this time.

7. Bake Two: Place the pan back in the oven and bake for another 10 minutes. Let rest for 15 minutes and then move the foil with the cookies to a baking sheet. Separate the cookies a little.

8. Bake three: Bake the cookies on the sheet for 10 more minutes. Let cool on the pan for a few minutes and move to a cooling rack to finish cooling.

Recipe & photograph by Laura Flowers.


13 comments:

Unknown said...

Very unique and cool recipe

The Southern Cookbook said...

Laura, I seen London fog shortbread and had to come over!! This looks excellent. It does kind of remind you of london fog, the color and all. How did it taste? Looks good...

Joanne said...

I've seen a lot of tea infusions lately in the blogosphere and I love them. Shortbread is always a favorite...sounds lovely with the earl grey!

Monet said...

This would be so lovely with a cup of apple cinnamon tea. I love the thought of dipping shortbread into a warm mug, and this recipe is so unique and different...I know it is worth the work! Thank you for sharing it with me!

love lives in the kitchen said...

i just love the name of this shortbread! it make me dream about london - beautiful with the fog!
have a nice day,
justyna

VegeCooking Club said...

Mmm buttery delicious. You will be very proud of me. I made another dessert! At tart! And it actually came out good!

Veronica said...

This reminds me I still need to make your original shortbread with the three-bake process! Mmmmm, love that buttery goodness!

Xiaolu @ 6 Bittersweets said...

Do you think it'd be overload to dip this in more tea? It'd be the perfect excuse to have a tea party or just a nice break in an afternoon of intense organic chemistry studying (not that I've been doing that a lot recently...). Glad you got around to sharing these :).

Jen @ My Kitchen Addiction said...

I always enjoy making shortbread cookies because they're not too overcomplicated and the flavors really stand out. Love the flavors in this version. Definitely going to try it!

Sue said...

Laura, I love shortbread so much! I'll have to try your version.

Krysta said...

Hi Laura,
I'm your newest follower although I've been reading for a while. I have a food blog too, although I'm NOT a photographer! And, I only have 14 followers and one of them is myself! HA hA. I just got a Cannon 50D and I LOVE IT, so maybe photography is not far behind!
Krysta

The Cooking Photographer said...

Krysta thank-you!

I have a Cannon 50D as well. I love mine. I've always liked this range of camera and this one has been wonderful for me.

Laura

Lynn @ I'll Have What She's Having said...

I love London Fog lattes. I recently made Ear Grey Ice Cream to try to replicate the creamy flavour. This shortbread sounds amazing!

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