This is a short post and there’s no history, story or interesting anecdotes to these shortbread bars. My daughter loves short bread and frequently demands that I bake some for her. My husband and I find shortbread too buttery and rich (the coffee and chocolate chunk shortbread squares mentined below are the exception), but there’s something about them that my daughter finds irresistible.
In fact, you can see how much she likes them when you realize this is my fifth shortbread post on this blog. The others are Ghorayebah (Arabic shortbread cookies), Shortbread Cookies, Scottish Shortbread, and Coffee And Chocolate Chunk Shortbread Squares!
This recipe is from one of my favourite and much thumbed cookie book, Cookies: Step-By-Step Techniques. The original recipe calls for vanilla, which I substituted with cardamom. If you do not have the cardamom, use vanilla extract.
This recipe requires just four ingredients, all of which should be easily available in most kitchens. It is loaded with butter, but then what is shortbread if not buttery?
I have it on authority (I consider my daughter one on shortbread, since she’s eaten so much of it!), that these shortbread bars are “really good”, so do give them a chance.
Brown Sugar Cardamom Shortbread Bars
Ingredients
- 200 gm butter , softened at room temperature
- 1 1/4 cups brown sugar (+ 2 tbsps extra)
- 2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
- 1 tsp cardamom powdered
Instructions
- Beat together the butter and brown sugar till light and creamy. Add the cardamom and the flour and blend very well.
- Gather the dough into a ball and press it out into a lightly greased rectangular baking tray (the type one uses for sheet cakes; mine is about 2u201d high on the sides) so that it is 1/4u201d thick. Sprinkle the extra 2 tbsps brown sugar evenly on the top and lightly press it into the dough.
- Cover the tray with plastic wrap and refrigerate till firm (for about an hour). Mark the dough into bars by cutting through to the bottom, with a sharp knife. If you wish to bake this later, the dough will keep in the fridge upto 3 days.
- If you would rather have regular round cookies, then gather the dough into a ball and wrap in plastic wrap. Refrigerate till firm (for about an hour) or for upto 3 days.
- On a lightly floured work surface, roll out the dough till it is 1/4" thick.
- Cut out into 2 1/2u201d cookies with cutters and sprinkle the extra 2 tbsps brown sugar evenly on the top. Lightly press the sugar into the dough with the rolling pin. Place the cookies, slightly apart, on lightly greased sheets.
- Bake the bars/ cookies at 150C for about 35 to 40 minutes until firm to touch. Press very lightly to check if theyu2019re done.
- Cool on racks and store in airtight containers.
Happy Cook says
I ahve to make shortbreads soon, never tried them . Perfect squares they are.
Shabs.. says
Myself and my son to loves simple shortbreads. Other day i just saw him eating a large shortbread all by himself!….You recmind me that i have to make some…adding cardamom is really new!!
Hari Chandana says
Wow… Yummyy
Trendsetters says
lovely recipe
Asha @ FSK says
I am not particularly good at making shortbread.. somehow they always crumnble on me.. but the hub makes good ones :D.. guess whoz gonna make this one??!! ;-))
Lisa says
OOh, I love the notion of caramom in shortbread. Sounds delicious!
R says
love this simple and nice shortbread recipe, its good for kids to snack on too 🙂 the cardamom must have lent a unique flavor.
Indhu says
I too find shortbread too buttery and rich… but I loved the chocolate chip and espresso from Dorie Greenspan’s book… I love the combination in this – brown sugar and cardamom… I could make this and bring it to work so that I don’t end up eating all of it 🙂
Curry Leaf says
Its been a while I have tried shortbread.Excellent recipe Aparna
Tasty Eats At Home says
How deliciously simple. I love shortbread, and cardamom? Yum!
Heavenly Housewife says
I love shortbread, and I love cardamom. These seem like you made them just for me.*kisses* HH
Cheri says
I’m with your daughter.. I love shortbread! This version sounds soo good, and the coffee/chocolate chunk ones sound equally delicious!
Ellie (Almost Bourdain) says
I like the addition of cardamom in your shortbread. I only have used this spice for curry but never thought I could use it for sweet dish. Thanks for sharing this recipe.
fresh365 says
I think I could eat these for breakfast! Would that be wrong?
Avanika [YumsiliciousBakes] says
I like the twist on traditional shortbread. It looks delish!