Easy Sweet & Savory Shortbread

You all know if I can include honey in a recipe I’m sure to do it.  This Honey-Rosemary Shortbread is buttery, melt in your mouth, lip smacking, amazing yumminess.  Shortbread is one of the most simple and easy cookie recipes out there in cookie recipe world.  Shortbread is on mybest-loved list of cookies.  Not only for the ease of preparation but its unassuming goodness.

Shortbread evolved from a medieval biscuit bread roll into a buttery cookie. Some versions are rustic, some are quite elegant. Read about the history of shortbread here. This one falls into the elegant category, savory rosemary paired with sweet honey, butter and confectioners sugar.

I am certain you can’t go wrong with the cookie.  I’ve shared it with friends, prepared it at Central Market, and served it at Enjoy! on honey night.  Every bite receives enthusiastic praise.  It’s one of those take a bite, savor the flavor, pause, chew and say,” Yum-m-m” moments!
Enjoy!

Honey-Rosemary Shortbread

Ingredients:

2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary
1 1/2 sticks (3/4 cup) unsalted butter, softened
2 tablespoons mild honey
1/2 cup confectioners sugar
1 tablespoon granulated sugar
Garnish: small rosemary sprigs

Special equipment: parchment paper

Preparation:

Preheat oven to 300°F.

Whisk together flour, salt, baking powder, and rosemary in a bowl.

Mix together butter, honey, and confectioners sugar in a large bowl with an electric mixer at low-speed, then add flour mixture and mix until dough resembles a coarse meal with some small (roughly pea-size) butter lumps. Gather dough into a ball and transfer to a lightly floured surface. Knead dough until it just comes together, about 8 times. Halve dough and form each half into a 5-inch disk.

Roll out 1 disk (keep remaining dough at room temperature) between 2 sheets of parchment into a 9-inch round (trim as necessary). Remove top sheet of parchment and transfer dough on bottom sheet of parchment to a baking sheet. Score dough into 8 wedges by pricking dotted lines with a fork, then mark edges decoratively. Arrange rosemary sprigs (if using) decoratively on top of dough, pressing lightly to help adhere, and sprinkle dough with 1/2 tablespoon granulated sugar.

Bake shortbread in middle of oven until golden brown, 20 to 25 minutes. Slide shortbread on parchment to a rack and cool 5 minutes. Transfer with a metal spatula to a cutting board and cut along score marks with a large heavy knife.

Make another shortbread with remaining dough.
* Shortbread keeps in an airtight container at room temperature 1 week.