EUROPEAN SHORTBREAD COOKIES RECIPES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F. Lightly grease 15x10x1-inch baking pan; set aside.
• Combine butter, sugar and salt in bowl. Beat at medium speed, scraping bowl often, until creamy. Add 1/4 cup lemon juice and 4 teaspoons lemon zest; continue beating until well mixed. Add flour; beat at low speed until well mixed.
• Press dough evenly into prepared pan. Bake 30-35 minutes or until light golden brown. Cool completely.
• Combine all glaze ingredients in bowl; beat with whisk until smooth.
• Spread thin layer of glaze over cooled shortbread; sprinkle with 1 tablespoon lemon zest, if desired. Let stand 30 minutes to set.
• Cut into 2 1/2x1-inch strips.

Steps:

• Sift the flour, powdered tea and salt into a bowl.
• In a mixer bowl, beat butter and powdered sugar until fluffy.
• Add flour mixture to mixer bowl and mix slowly until dough just comes together.
• Pull dough together carefully in a log, approximately 2 inches in diameter.
• Wrap dough log and place in freezer for 30 minutes or until dough has firmed to the touch.
• Slice dough into 1/4 inch rounds and place on a parchment or Silpat lined cookie sheet, approximately 1 inch apart.
• Bake in a preheated 325 degree F oven for 16 to 18 minutes (or until the cookies are just starting to turn golden around the edges), turning the pan halfway through the baking time.
• Remove cookies immediately from the cookie sheet and cool on a wire rack.
• Store in an airtight container or wrap well and freeze.
• The well-chilled cookie dough can also be rolled out and cut into desired shapes before baking.
• NOTE 1-- powdered green tea is not merely green tea that has been pulverized in a food processor or food mill, it's a special kind of tea that has been prepared to dissolve nicely.
• NOTE 2-- don't use the microwave to soften the butter, room temperature butter is the correct consistency for this recipe.