This Bready or Not original makes a 9x13 pan of fresh-tasting shortbread that is both firm and soft. It's excellent for shipping or travel.
Course: Dessert, Snack
Keyword: citrus, cookies, shortbread
Author: Beth Cato
Ingredients
1 1/2cupsunsalted butter3 sticks, room temperature
2cupsconfectioners' sugar
2orangeszested and juiced
1/2cupfresh orange juice
1teaspoonlemon extractor orange extract
2 1/2cupsall-purpose flour
1/2cupyellow cornmeal
1/2teaspoonsalt
turbinado sugaror sparkling sugar
Instructions
Preheat oven at 325-degrees. Line a 9x13 pan with aluminum foil and apply butter or nonstick spray.
In a mixer bowl, combine the butter, sugar, orange zest, and extract. Beat until it's light and creamy, about 2 to 3 minutes. Add orange juice and stir.
In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, cornmeal, and salt. Slowly mix into the wet ingredients until it is just mixed. Dump the dough into the ready pan and use an uneven spatula to even it out.
Use a knife to score the bars, gently cutting through to establish where it will be sliced again after baking. The dough is very sticky; wipe the blade between passes, and dab the excess back into the top. It doesn't need to look neat. Completely sprinkle the top with turbinado sugar or sparkling sugar.
Bake until the shortbread looks dry and golden, about 35 to 40 minutes. Immediately use a knife to follow the previous lines and slice the shortbread into bars (when cool, the shortbread will likely crumble when cut). Set the whole pan on a rack to cool, eventually lifting them out by the aluminum foil to finish cooling.
Store in sealed containers at room temperature. This citrus cornmeal shortbread is excellent for travel and shipping as it keeps well for at least six days.