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Tiny, fluted, showered in sugar: “Sparkly, Very Sparkly Stars” |
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Raspberry Sandwich Cookies |
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Dipped in Vahlrona chocolate and topped with fleur de sel |
These cookies are always on all my cookie trays in one version or another. Each shortbread cookie is made from the same recipe, but is simply finished differently. The recipe is Eli Zabar’s (NYC) and I took it straight from Ina Garten, who I guess took it straight from Eli, who, it appears got it from his mother! My cookies, however, are quite different than Ina’s. Your cookies will be something else as well. And while these are not terribly innovative or cutting edge, they are terribly delicious. Addictive, in fact. Just add coffee. Just add tea. Just add sherry. Just add…you.
If you watch Ina regularly, you’ll know she talks about Eli Zabar quite often and even has him on the show occasionally. Eli Zabar’s is a store and catering business in the Big Apple; he’s a baker; he’s a gardener; well just….Check him out here. Watch Ina cook an Eli Zabar salmon recipe here.
These are versatile…
Summertime, the cookies are wonderful crumbled up and served over ice cream with fresh strawberries and a splash of Framboise or Grand Marnier.
I have come close to burning these cookies so that they are brown, brown. But they’re still tasty; some people like them best this way. My husband among them. Could you ask more of cookie than that it taste good darned near burnt? While doing a bit of research for this post, I discovered this tidbit on Eli Zabar’s website where you can order these cookies:
Eli always reaches straight for the darkest cookies – the browner the cookie, the more deeply caramelized the sugar and the better the taste.
I often make this recipe and cut out the cookie both thin and small–1/4-inch x 1 1/2-inches, say. The tiny gems not only melt in your mouth, you get a cookie fix for a lot less calories than if you made big peanut butter or chocolate chip cookies. Maybe simple pleasures are best.
- 3/4# soft unsalted butter
- 1 c white sugar
- 1 t vanilla extract
- 3 1/2 c unbleached flour
- 1/4 t salt (no salt if you used salted butter)
For Alyce’s sandwich cookies: 3/4 c seedless raspberry jam and 1T Cointreau
For Alyce’s chocolate dips: 3-6 oz Valrhona Chocolate melted*; 1T coarse sea salt–or fleur de sel
Instructions:
Mix together together the butter and the sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer until just combined. Add vanilla. Sift the flour and salt and add it to the butter an d sugar. Mix until the dough starts to come together. Dump on a floured board and shape into a flat disc. Refrigerate, tightly wrapped, for 30 minutes.
Preheat oven to 350 F.
alyce’s variations:
For Raspberry Shortbread Sandwiches: Time Consuming but has the WOW! factor + taste
Mix jam with Cointreau and heat briefly; stir well. Turn cookies flat side up and, holding one, place about 1/2 t jam mixture on it. Place another cookie, flat side down into the jam mixture and press together lightly. Place cookies on racks as you finish them. When all are done, dust with confectioner’s sugar shaken from the shaker or through a small strainer/sieve.
For Valrhona Chocolate Shortbreads: Nothing further need be said…
Chop or grate chocolate (I like Valrhona, but any good-quality dark chocolate will do.) into a small sauce pan. Place sauce pan over another with an inch or so of simmering water. Let chocolate melt slowly. When melted, take each cookie and dip halfway. Place each dipped cookie onto a wax paper lined tray to dry. Place a piece or two of sea salt, if desired, on the chocolate side before the chocolate dries.
*Depending on how much of the dough you commit to the chocolate variation.
Store these cookies in tight containers after they are very dry. Place wax paper between layers.
ALL ABOUT INA FRIDAYS:
The first Friday of the month, food bloggers from many parts of the world join together in posting a favorite Ina recipe. This month we have main courses; next month is Desserts and Other or Miscellaneous Recipes. Note: After this round, drinks will go with appetizers instead of with Desserts and Other.
Stop in and see what all of our fine writers are cooking up today or any day:
- Ansh @ Spice Roots
- Barbara @ Moveable Feasts
- Bhavna @ Just a Girl From AAmchi Mumbai
- Chaya @ Bizzy Bakes
- Linda, @ Tumbleweed Contessa
- Linda @ There and Back Again
- Martha @ Simple Nourished Living
- Minnie @ The Lady 8 Home
- Mireya @ My Healthy Eating Habits
- Nancy @ My Picadillo
- Ria @ Ria’s Collection
- Rocky Mountain Woman @ Rocky Mountain Woman
- Veronica@ My Catholic Kitchen
Are you a food blogger? We’d love to have you! Want to join in one time a month? Email Alyce @ afmorgan53@yahoo.com or link in to join us once in a while (click on blue oval link button at bottom and follow prompts) only if you’re blogging Ina! No other posts, please?!
It is possible some of our writers may be in and out of the Ina group periodically. If you click on their blog and there’s no Ina recipe that day, check their index for previous entries or return another time. Thanks and keep on coming back!
Sing a new song,
Alyce
two of these photos were originally posted December, 2010
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You may call these cookies plain but you have made them special with you additions. They are a lovely addition to any table.
I love shortbread cookies in any flavor, shape or form! Thank you so much for this recipe.And I hope you will consider sharing your recipe on my Foodie Friday Blog Hop at A Room for Two with a View. I know my readers will love it! Have a fantastic Foodie Friday and a wonderful weekend!MelissaA Room for Two with a View
Oh my god Alyce I made shortbread cookies too and cut them the same way ha ha 🙂
@Chaya Thanks! Happy Friday! @Melissa I stopped by your blog a minute ago.
Shortbread is one of my all time favorites…These look perfect!
I can have a jar full of those and feel guilty later and then have a go at them again. Delicious!!
Wonderful, Alyce. And what I like best about shortbreads is you can freeze them and bake when you need them. So versatile!
Oh they looks so so so perfect. Valhrona is my favorite chocolate as well!
Wonderful post Alyce. Love all your variations. I too love this recipe, but the only way I've made it is by turning them into the coconut thumbprints. One of my husband's all-time favorite cookies too.
Thanks, everyone! @Martha: COCONUT THUMBPRINTS!!! I'm on it!
Great post. I love the cookie variations and I'm sure I'll be referring to the post come Christmas. I agree completely that shortbread cookies are much better than sugar cookies. If it wasn't so hot I'd go cook up a batch.
You can't go wrong with a great shortbread cookie recipe. I love them dipped in chocolate!
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