Submitted for your approval: The shortbread cookie. Up until now it has lived its life in the shadow of other confections. Until now it has been happy to be looked at as a rather vanilla addition to Holiday tables everywhere, but today a wrong turn down a dark alley will transform the shortbread cookie’s life forever.
Without ever realizing that something irreversible was about to happen, a chance meeting with two ingredients from the Southwest have sent this common little cookie on a path it never could have imagined. Today it has entered on a one way tip to…
The spicy zone.
OK. Perhaps a bit of a cheesy intro for something as simple as a shortbread cookie, but the thing about a simple recipe such as shortbread is that it doesn’t take a whole lot of tinkering to go from really good to “Oh My Goodness.”
Don’t get me wrong. Shortbread all by itself is wonderful. It fits all my basic requirements for a great recipe. It’s simple, unassuming and delicious. 99% of my favorite cookie recipes are based on shortbread. This cookie just hit the top ten, making it completely worthy of both the overly melodramatic introduction and the time and effort that it takes to make them.
Do you have a favorite shortbread-based recipe? If so, why not share? we’d love to hear about it.
Spicy Cornmeal Shortbread Wedges
Ingredients
Instructions
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
20 Serving Size:
1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 84Total Fat: 5gSaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 12mgSodium: 52mgCarbohydrates: 10gFiber: 0gSugar: 3gProtein: 1g
What I would have done differently had I thought of it at the time:
These little wedges are fabulous. A tad spicy, a bit savory and not too sweet. I can’t see a reason to change them up much and if the speed at which my kids demolished them is any indicator, I really shouldn’t. They were a certified hit and will remain so for years.
Links to other recipes like this:
- Chocolate Chili Shortbread, from Esurientes – The comfort Zone
Way to keep it warm in those — what did you tweet this morning? TWO degrees? — low low temps, Jerry. Chipotle will do just that. I’ve never had cornmeal shortbread but they sound really good. Maybe with my chili holiday festival this Saturday. Yum!
They’re lovely. A little spicy, but not too bad. you should definitely give them a go!
the fluted edge is a great idea I must steal. GREG
comes with the tart pan :)
If the kids gobbled them up, they’ve got to be good! Love the sweet, spicy, and savory comb! A good looking little shortbread, which like you is one of my favorite cookies. Great recipe!
In a large bowl with an electric mixer (or in the bowl of a standing mixer fitted with a paddle attachment), beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add salt, curry powder, cumin, black pepper, turmeric, and cayenne. Beat until well combined. Scrape down mixer and sides of bowl. Beat in flour until well combined.
Turn dough out onto a large piece of waxed paper on a flat surface. Using a lightly floured rolling pin, roll dough into a 2-in.-wide log about 12 in. long. Wrap in waxed paper and chill until firm, at least 1 hour and up to 2 days.
Preheat oven to 325° and set oven rack in middle position. Cut dough into 1/4-in.-thick slices. Lay slices at least 1/2 in. apart on baking sheets. Bake in batches on middle rack until set but not brown, about 12 minutes. Cool on wire racks.
Note: Nutritional analysis is per cracker.