Shortbreads are probably one of my favorite cookies. What’s not to like: butter, sugar, and just enough flour to hold them together. This recipe from Dorie, the Brown Sugar Pecan Shortbreads, appeals to that Pecan Sandy lover in me…I am making an earlier Tuesdays with Dorie recipe because I already made the brioche sticky buns: you can see my brioche here AND my brioche sticky buns here. I made those almost the minute I had the book in my hand.
They are in the oven baking even as I type…She said a pinch of clove, and I might have put more than a pinch in: I can smell the cloves, which makes me think I was over zealous. We’ll see.
Also, can we discuss how much I dislike the stooooopit silicone hot pads I use? They are awkward, you cannot feel anything through them: heat OR the cookies you ruin by clumsily grabbing the cookie pan…(see here–that cookie missing its edge? It got destroyed by one of those pads…)
I have to either get rid of them, always use my dish towels (the cotton ones, not the microfiber ones: those melt. Trust me on that.)…or just my tongs, which probably are my answer…
At any rate, I did as Dorie told. I didn’t over mix. This is key. I rolled them out in a zip-lock bag (very clever), although I think I may have rolled a bit thinner near the edges than 1/4-inch. Once chilled, it was simplicity itself to measure and cut…and since I’m learning to bake, I’m learning to be a bit compulsive about getting it right…
I even used the ruler (that’s from Barbados with cool Bajan stamps…say Bajan with a hard “j”, not the “h” sound you might think…I love that the locals call themselves Bajans. I digress…) Of course, since I didn’t roll out perfectly, I got some less-than-perfect shortbread squares.
I would say I probably baked them a titch too long and yes, if truth be told, one shake of clove should have been enough. But now they are clove brown sugar pecan shortbreads.
Things could be worse.
As for the taste tests: all is well. I make shortbread at Christmas every year, and as I enjoy this with a glass of red wine, I think Dorie is on to something with that not overmixing: these are melt in your mouth.
Can’t wait to bake again.
I’ve never made these, and the “melt in your mouth” description is a real seller!
I’ve never made these, and the “melt in your mouth” description is a real seller!
Good choice. I’ve been wanting to make these myself and these might just push me into actually doing it. They look wonderful.
Good choice. I’ve been wanting to make these myself and these might just push me into actually doing it. They look wonderful.
YUM! I have not made these yet. I may have to try these very soon!
Yours turned out so beautiful! When I made these, they melted into weird looking rounds. I think I’ll have to try them again.
Yours turned out so beautiful! When I made these, they melted into weird looking rounds. I think I’ll have to try them again.
I almost made this last week when we could choose an older recipe if we didn’t have a Madeleine pan, they look fantastic!
I almost made this last week when we could choose an older recipe if we didn’t have a Madeleine pan, they look fantastic!
Oh, these look good. I see a “Dorie Rewind” in my future. 😉
Oh, these look good. I see a “Dorie Rewind” in my future. 😉
Oh yumm!! Those shortbreads look really good! I’ll definitely have to give these a try! Well done!
Oh yumm!! Those shortbreads look really good! I’ll definitely have to give these a try! Well done!
ooohhh i joined after TWD made this recipe. I definitely have it on my must-bake list! Great job!
Clara @ I♥food4thought
ooohhh i joined after TWD made this recipe. I definitely have it on my must-bake list! Great job!
Clara @ I♥food4thought
I always halve the clove when I make a recipe. I used to omit it but I’ve gotten used to a little bit, perhaps at some point I’ll use the indicated amount! Those cookies look delicious though, I’ll have to try them out! 🙂
I always halve the clove when I make a recipe. I used to omit it but I’ve gotten used to a little bit, perhaps at some point I’ll use the indicated amount! Those cookies look delicious though, I’ll have to try them out! 🙂
these look delish, i just have to try this recipe out! and i sooo agree on the so-called bright idea of the silicone hot pads!!
these look delish, i just have to try this recipe out! and i sooo agree on the so-called bright idea of the silicone hot pads!!
Yum – those look great. I make shortbread every year at Christmas, too. Maybe this year I’ll make a variety of them and include this one. Nice job!
Yum – those look great. I make shortbread every year at Christmas, too. Maybe this year I’ll make a variety of them and include this one. Nice job!
Very good looking cookies. I love shortbread, but still need to try Dorie’s recipe.
Very good looking cookies. I love shortbread, but still need to try Dorie’s recipe.
Shortbread is perfect evidence that less is more, don’t you think? With other cookies I tend to think, well, if I throw in some chocolate chips, or some coconut, or maybe a little almond extract they will be even BETTER, but a good shortbread recipe can really stand on its own. Looks like you found a good one here.
And I couldn’t agree more about the silicone hot pads. I manage to shmoosh a cookie and/or burn myself every time I use them. Why don’t I just throw them away??
Shortbread is perfect evidence that less is more, don’t you think? With other cookies I tend to think, well, if I throw in some chocolate chips, or some coconut, or maybe a little almond extract they will be even BETTER, but a good shortbread recipe can really stand on its own. Looks like you found a good one here.
And I couldn’t agree more about the silicone hot pads. I manage to shmoosh a cookie and/or burn myself every time I use them. Why don’t I just throw them away??
those look so perfect, like the ones in the book!
those look so perfect, like the ones in the book!
I missed out on this recipe too, I’m going to have to give it a try, cookies make nice gifts.
I missed out on this recipe too, I’m going to have to give it a try, cookies make nice gifts.
Oh, I’m so jealous! Your shortbread turned out so good! Mine was terrible. I’ll have to give it another go.