shortbread

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A few months back, I made a couple blueberry pistachio sourdough loaves. I enjoyed the flavor combination so much that I decided to mix it into a shortbread dough, add some lemon zest, roll it into logs, chill, then slice and bake the cookies. The result was just as lovely as the bread. Blueberry pistachio is a unique and delicious flavor combination, tangy and earthy, and deeply satisfying.

Blueberry pistachio shortbread cookies are buttery and crumbly with a tart twist and a hearty texture. They are rich, but not too rich, and sweet but not too sweet, an altogether pleasing fruit-nut combo. 

ingredients

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 tablespoon lemon zest
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
  • ½ cup granulated sugar
  • ⅔ cup dried blueberries
  • ⅔ cup pistachios

steps

In a large bowl, combine the flour, lemon zest, and salt and set aside. Using a stand mixer or hand mixer, cream together the butter and the sugar until light and fluffy. Slowly add in the flour mixture. With the mixer on low speed, add in the dried blueberries and pistachios until just combined, no need to overmix.

Transfer the dough to a large piece of plastic wrap, roll it out into a log and refrigerate it for 1-2 hours. This will allow the flavors to really mingle and the dough to set. 

After the dough has chilled, preheat the oven to 350°F. Using a sharp knife, cut ⅓ inch slices and place them about 1 inch apart on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake for ~12 minutes until lightly golden on the edges.

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Whenever I make marmalade, it always seems to multiply. I will have jars hanging around the kitchen, waiting to meet their destiny. Such is the case with a batch of grapefruit marmalade I made a few months ago. When properly sealed in a mason jar and unopened, it can last six months stored in a cool, dry place and even longer in the refrigerator. Grapefruit herb shortbread bars are the perfect solution to a plethora of marmalade !

I love the combination of rosemary and grapefruit, so I sought to incorporate those flavors into a dessert. Thus, grapefruit herb shortbread bars were born. The aromatic and fragrant rosemary blends harmoniously with the bitterness of the citrus, and basil and sugar round out the palate in this recipe.

ingredients

  • 1 cup (2 sticks) butter
  • 1 ¼ cups sugar, divided
  • 2 cups flour
  • Pinch of salt
  • 1 tablespoon fresh rosemary, chopped
  • 1 teaspoon fresh basil, chopped
  • 1 ½ cups (12 ounces) grapefruit marmalade
  • Confectioners sugar

steps

Preheat the oven to 350°F and line a 9×9 inch baking pan with parchment paper. 

In a stand mixer or food processor, cream the butter and 1 cup of the sugar together until it is light and fluffy. In a separate bowl, mix together the flour, salt, rosemary, and basil. Slowly add the flour mixture to the butter mixture until combined.

Split the dough in half and press one half of it into the bottom of the parchment-lined pan. Evenly distribute the marmalade over the top of the dough. Sprinkle the remaining ¼ cup of sugar over the marmalade and drop small balls of the remaining dough over the top. The balls should resemble a crumb topping and will spread out more evenly when the bars bake.

Bake for 45 minutes until the shortbread begins to turn golden and the marmalade is bubbly. Let cool and dust with confectioners sugar.