Chocolate Shortbread

Rich shortbread is easy to prepare and keeps for several days in an airtight container. Softened butter should be pliable but not easily spreadable. Because this mixture is already dark, it's hard to tell when the shortbread browns. Check your oven temperature using an oven thermometer, and bake just until the shortbread is set.

Yield: 2 dozen (serving size: 1 cookie)

Ingredients

• 4.5  ounces  all-purpose flour (about 1 cup)
• 3  tablespoons  unsweetened premium dark cocoa
• 1/4  teaspoon  salt
• 1/2  cup  powdered sugar
• 5  tablespoons  butter, softened
• 1/4  cup  canola oil
• Cooking spray

Preparation

1. Weigh or lightly spoon flour into a dry measuring cup; level with a knife. Combine flour, cocoa, and salt in a small bowl; stir with a whisk.

2. Place sugar, butter, and oil in a medium bowl; mix with hands until combined. Add flour mixture, and mix with hands until combined; wrap in plastic wrap. Refrigerate 30 minutes.

3. Preheat oven to 325°.

4. Place dough on a baking sheet coated with cooking spray; press dough into an 8 x 5–inch rectangle about 3/8-inch thick. Pierce entire surface liberally with a fork. Bake at 325° for 30 minutes or just until set. Cut shortbread into 24 pieces. Cool completely.

Lemon Shortbread: You can also use grated orange rind in place of lemon. A little bit of cornstarch ensures a short texture in the cookies. Substitute 3 tablespoons cornstarch for the unsweetened cocoa. Add 1/2 teaspoon grated lemon rind to flour mixture. Knead dough lightly 4 times or just until smooth before chilling. Bake 30 minutes or just until set and edges are golden.

CALORIES 74 (58% from fat); FAT 4.8g (sat 1.7g, mono 2g, poly 0.8g); PROTEIN 0.6g; CARB 7.5g; FIBER 0.2g; CHOL 6mg; IRON 0.3mg; SODIUM 42mg; CALC 2mg

Brown Sugar Shortbread: Using light brown sugar yields sweet treats with caramel notes. These double easily; just bake each batch separately for the best results.

Use a total of 5.5 ounces all-purpose flour (about 1 1/4 cups), and substitute 3 tablespoons cornstarch for the cocoa. Omit powdered sugar and oil, and use 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar and 7 tablespoons butter (total), softened. Sprinkle dough with 1 1/2 teaspoons ice water; knead dough lightly 4 times or just until smooth. Bake for 25 minutes or just until set and edges are golden.

CALORIES 74 (41% from fat); FAT 3.4g (sat 2.1g, mono 0.9g, poly 0.2g); PROTEIN 0.7g; CARB 10.4g; FIBER 0.2g; CHOL 9mg; IRON 0.4mg; SODIUM 50mg; CALC 6mg

Nutritional Information

Calories:

72 (60% from fat)

Fat:

4.8g (sat 1.7g,mono 2.1g,poly 0.8g)

Protein:

0.7g

Carbohydrate:

7g

Fiber:

0.3g

Cholesterol:

6mg

Iron:

0.3mg

Sodium:

42mg

Calcium:

2mg