APRICOT FILLED SHORTBREAD COOKIES RECIPES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Shortbread: In medium bowl, with mixer, beat butter& sugar till light& fluffy.
• Add in flour.
• Pat mixture into an 8 by 8" pan.
• Bake 12 minutes or till light golden in color.
• Cool completely on a wire rack.
• Filling: Place apricots in a small saucepan& add just enough water to cover.
• Bring to boiling.
• Reduce heat and simmer, covered, for 15 minutes. Watch carefully & add a bit more water if needed.
• Drain apricots, reserving 3 T liquid.
• Chop apricots finely.
• Combine in saucepan with reserved liquid, lemon peel, sugar,& cornstarch.
• Bring to boil and boil for 1 minute, stirring.
• Let filling cool 10 minutes& spread over shortbread crust.
• Spread with nuts, if desired.
• Bake 20 minuts.
• Cool completely on wire rack.
• Cut into bars.

Steps:

• Combine butter and powdered sugar in bowl. Beat at medium speed, scraping bowl often, until creamy. Stir in vanilla. Add flour and salt; beat at low speed until well mixed.
• Divide dough in half. Shape each half into a disk; flatten slightly. Wrap each in plastic food wrap. Refrigerate 1 hour or until firm.
• Heat oven to 300°F.
• Roll out dough on lightly floured surface, one-half at a time (keeping remaining dough refrigerated), to 1/8-inch thickness. Cut dough with 1 1/2-inch round cookie cutter. Place 1 inch apart onto ungreased cookie sheets.
• Whisk egg white with water in bowl; brush over surface of cookies. Sprinkle with sanding sugar. Bake 10-12 minutes or until set. Cool completely.
• Heat apricot preserves in small saucepan over medium-low heat 1-2 minutes or until mixture just begins to bubble. Continue cooking 1 minute. Strain to remove large pieces, if necessary. Cool completely. Spread thin layer of preserves onto unsugared-side of cookie; top with second cookie, sugared-side down. Repeat with remaining cookies.