Homemade Shortbread

Shortbread from shops is good, but warm homemade shortbread is fantastic! Here’s how to make your own shortbread:

Ingredients

100g of butter or margarine (whatever you have, but cold butter is easier to use.  Some people also prefer the taste).

150g of plain four

50g of caster sugar (Golden caster sugar is ideal).

A little bit of extra butter or margarine

Equipment

A knife (to cut the butter)
A large mixing bowl
A spoon
A baking tray
A cooling rack

How to make your Homemade Shortbread:

1.  Put the butter or margarine into a bowl.  If using butter,  use the knife to cut it up into small chunks.

2.  Put the flour on top of the butter.

3.  Now rub the butter (or margarine) into the flour. This can take a little while, so stick some music on – before you start or you’ll have a buttery ipod!

4.  When the mixture looks like right, stir in the sugar.

5.  Switch the oven on to Gas 5, 190C.

6.  Take the baking tray or tin and use the bit of extra butter or margerine to grease the whole of the inside.  Just use your fingers to smear a very thin layer all over the surface.  This is to stop your biscuits sticking to the tin when they are cooked.

7.  Empty the biscuit mixture into the tin and using your hands,  squash the mixture down hard.  You should end up with a layer of mixture that it about 1cm thick.   It doesn’t matter if the mixture doesn’t reach the end of the tray.

8.  Using a knife, divide the mixture into squares.

9.  Put the tray into the oven to cook. Check it after 15 minutes. Does it smell nice? Is it a golden colour?   If so, it’s done!  If it doesn’t seem ready, put it back for another 5 minutes.

10. When it’s ready, sprinkle some sugar over the top. This will make your shortbread look better and make it crunchy to bite.

11. Allow the shortbread to cool in the tray. Then, using a knife or a cake slice, lift the pieces of shortbread onto a plate.  Delectable!

Related Recipes

Why not try Freya’s Chocolate Shortbread?
Fruit Cheesecake
Chocolate Brownies