Fruit & Nut Shortbread Cookies

Shortbread, a traditional Scottish baked good is a type of cookie with high butter content. Since butter was such an important ingredient here, so the word ‘shortbread’ is derived from this shortening (butter). The traditional recipe of these cookies is one part sugar, two parts butter with three parts flour; but these days, there are a lot of varieties in the ingredients of the cookies. The shortbread are originated in Scotland and these cookies are called as the ancestor of all the butter cookies. Originally the shortbread are made with oatmeal. Some also adds cornstarch to get a more dense texture of the cookies where as some adds rice flour for a grainy and crumbly texture.

Well, Monday is here again !! This time the Foodie Monday Blog Hop team has decided the theme no 172 as ‘International Feast‘ which in details means that we have to prepare a dish from any one country whose name starts with the first letter of corresponding member’s name. So for me obviously it is the letter ‘S’ 😉 and I chosen the country S for ‘Scotland’. From the Scottish cuisine, I have picked up the most famous shortbread cookies with some addition as ‘Fruit & Nut Shortbread Cookies‘ for the contribution.

These cookies are completely egg-free. The main ingredients of these cookies I have not changed at all, that means all purpose flour, butter and sugar are used here. In addition to those, I have flavored the cookies with some vanilla essence and orange zest. If orange essence is available at your place, then that can be used directly in place of vanilla essence and orange zest. To give a nutty texture in the cookies, I have added some chopped nuts like cashew, almond, pistachio, raisin and dried fruits like apricot. But these selections of fruits and nuts can be totally varied as desired. These buttery goodies are perfectly fit for Christmas gifting ideas also. 

So do try these egg-free Fruit & Nut Shortbread Cookies. If you tried my recipe and enjoyed fully, then please share some pictures of your creation with me. Also kindly give your valuable feedback either in the comment box below or tag me as #firsttimercook on Instagram. You may also follow me on Facebook,  Pinterest,  Twitter,  Google+,  Instagram and can subscribe for free to get new recipes directly into your inbox 😊

Baked

Eggless

Scottish Cuisine

Yield: 25Author: SasmitaPrint Recipe

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Fruit and Nut Shortbread Cookies

a nutty flavor to the traditional Scottish baked goodies

prep time: 15 minscook time: 20 minstotal time: 35 mins

ingredients:

• All purpose flour  –  2 cup
• Butter (salted)  –  1 cup
• Powdered sugar  –  1/2 cup
• Vanilla essence  –  1 tsp
• Orange zest  –  1/2 tsp
• Dried fruits n nuts (raisins, apricot, cashew, almond, pistachio)(finely chopped)  –  1/2 cup

instructions

1. In a mixing bowl, first mix butter and powdered sugar using a hand whisk until a creamy texture.
2. Next add orange zest, vanilla essence and mix very well.
3. Add the flour and mix well to get a soft non-sticky dough.
4. Finally add all the chopped fruits and nuts to the dough and again mix well.
5. Divide the dough into desired number of balls.
6. Give any shape or just flatten each dough ball and place over a plate.
7. Keep in refrigerator for at least 1 hour or until the cookies firm up nicely. 
8. Before taking out from refrigerator, preheat the oven at 160 deg C. 

9. Transfer the cookies to a baking tray lined with parchment paper leaving 1 inch space between each cookie as these tend to expand. 

10. Bake for 18-20 minutes. 
11. Then take out the baking tray from the oven and allow to cool down completely.
12. Store all the fruit and nut shortbread cookies in an airtight jars and serve as desired !

NOTES:

Use 1 pinch of salt if not using salted butter.
All the fruits and nuts used here is totally as per choice.
Putting in the refrigerator is important here. This process will make the cookies to have a perfect texture once baked and also don't allow the cookies to expand much while baking .

https://firsttimercook.com/2018/11/eggless-fruit-nut-shortbread-cookies.html

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