I am so happy to have Paige Shelton on my blog today to share an amazing shortbread recipe and celebrate her upcoming release, LOST BOOKS AND OLD BONES, with you! Be sure to check out her giveaway below the recipe, too!
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Of course, shortbread direct from Scotland is the best shortbread in the world. Except for your grandmother’s. No one can beat your grandmother’s anything. Having said that, I do love shortbread. Known by a number of different names in the UK, I was first introduced to these cookies as Empire Biscuits. They are addictive. So, no matter if you call them Imperial Biscuits, Double Biscuits, German Biscuits, Linzer Biscuit, or Empire Biscuits, they are delicious. And pretty easy to make. If you’re craving something sweet, these are the way to go. Also, if you’d just like a yummy recipe for shortbread, this one is good.
I found a tip somewhere on the Internet, and I have really enjoyed what this ingredient does to shortbread. Bird’s Custard Powder.
Instead of 4 cups of the flour, I use 3 cups flour, and one cup of the custard powder. If you don’t want to track down some Bird’s, just use 4 cups flour. I ordered mine from Walmart.com. This recipe should yield about 24 sandwich cookies (more might be possible if you make small, thin cookies), but I make my cookies bigger than the normal “biscuit” size, so I only get about 18.
- 2 to 2-1/2 cups butter, softened
- 1 cup white sugar
- 3 cups sifted all-purpose flour
- 1 cup Bird’s Custard Powder (or substitute with flour)
- 1 cup raspberry preserves
- 12 or more maraschino cherries
- 4 cups confectioners’ sugar
- 1/4 cup milk
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Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
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In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until smooth. Gradually stir in the flour and custard powder until well blended. Start with 2 cups butter. Add more if you can’t keep the dough together enough to roll it out. It takes some work and some getting used to. If your dough seems too sticky, add a bit more flour at a time until it can be rolled out.
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On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough out to ¼ inch thickness. Cut into rounds using a cookie cutter.
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Bake for 8 to 10 minutes. Allow cookies to cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.
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Sandwich one teaspoon of preserves between two cookies. Repeat until all cookies are used, or all jam is gone, and remaining cookies must be sacrificed to the baker for all her hard work.
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In a medium bowl, gradually stir the milk into the confectioners’ sugar until the icing is of a spreadable consistency. Spread on top of the sandwiched cookies. Top each cookie with half a cherry while the icing is till wet. If you’re feeling like a rebel, go ahead and top with something else. Anything you like would work just fine.
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Here is a recipe for making your own custard powder to use:
1 cup confectioners' sugar;
1/2 cup powdered milk;
1/2 cup cornstarch;
1 teaspoon vanilla powder (if you don't use, add 1 teaspoon vanilla extract to shortbread recipe);
1 teaspoon salt;
Whisk together and then measure out 1 cup to use for shortbread recipe. -
If you substitute flour for the custard powder, but sure to add 1 teaspoon of salt to the shortbread recipe.
Thanks to Kim for letting me stop by today! See you all in the bookstores.
A special thanks to Paige Shelton for providing a hardcover copy of LOST BOOKS AND OLD BONES for one lucky winner. Contest is limited to U.S. residents only and ends Wednesday, April 4, 2018 at 11:59 pm PST. Please use the Rafflecopter box located below to enter. The winner will be announced on this page and on Cinnamon & Sugar’s Facebook page, as well as notified by email (so check your spam folder!)
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My Review
Click on book to visit Amazon
I’ve been a fan of the Scottish Bookshop Mystery series by Paige Shelton and was excited to read an advance copy of her third book, LOST BOOKS AND OLD BONES. Not only did it meet my high expectations but I think it’s the best book in the series so far! Ms. Shelton captured my attention starting with her Acknowledgments and continuing all the way through to her list of real-life victims at the back of the book. I couldn’t put the book down and devoured it in one sitting while neglecting to pause to even take a single note for my review. I greatly admire the protagonist, Delany, from Kansas in America, as the Scottish people are prone to call her. She has an adventurous spirit, enjoys researching historical books and items, and has a kind, friendly heart to those she meets… even to those who might not seem to deserve her compassion. She is surrounded by a wonderful cast of characters that greatly add to the enjoyment of the story. I adore The Cracked Spine, the delightful bookshop with its mysterious treasures and tomes! It’s a place I could spend days and days exploring and wish it were a real location. It’s also the perfect setting from which to feature Delany getting involved in murder mysteries.
Ms. Shelton weaves an intriguing plot incorporating not only a modern day murder but a murder that spans a decade and several historical murders from the early 1800’s! While the plot lines are intricate, the author writes skillfully so that the reader never feels lost. In fact, the suspense kept me on the edge of my seat, turning pages faster and faster to see how she would tie the seemingly unrelated deaths together. Ms. Shelton deftly brings the threads of the story together in an exciting and very satisfying conclusion that leaves me pleading for the next book to release soon!
Amazon Synopsis
Delaney Nichols, originally of Kansas but settling happily into her new life as a bookseller in Edinburgh, works at The Cracked Spine in the heart of town. She’s recently befriended a few medical school students after they came into the shop to sell some antique medical tomes. But when one of the students’ friends is found murdered outside in the alley, Delaney takes it upon herself to help bring the murderer to justice.
During her investigation, Delaney finds some old scalpels in the bookshop’s warehouse―she finds out that they belonged to a long-dead doctor, whose story might be connected to the present-day murder. It’s all Delaney can do to race to solve this crime before time runs out and she ends up in danger herself.
I was provided an advance copy with the hopes I would review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I don’t have a favorite shortbread recipe but have been gifted with food baskets most Christmases which include Walkers Shortbread. Fell in love with this type of cookie when I visited England, thanks for sharing the recipe.
I’ve never made it, so I don’t have a recipe. BUT, I love to eat shortbread!
Walkers Shortbread is pretty good. I don’t make it much, but I love shortbread. Thank you for the recipe and chance to win.
Don’t have one.
I always love seeing the added recipes. I never try them, but one day I will get the courage to! Shortbread is wonderful though.
Have never made shortbread, but this recipe sounds delicious. Would love to win the book to add to my To Be Read pile!
Thank you for the chance and the recipe!
I do have a shortbread recipe, but I don’t use it much. It calls for rice flour, which gives the cookie a slightly grainy texture. This recipe sounds great! Thanks for the chance to win.
My brother has perfected our grandmother’s shortbread recipe and if we are lucky, he will make a batch when he comes for Christmas! These look delicious, and I don’t think the one he makes has that custard powder.
Walkers shortbread
The empire biscuits look yummy!
I’ve actually never tried to make shortbread—but this looks like a good one to try. I don’t have a favorite brand to buy either.
I’m not an expert as to shortbread but I do love a good Lorne Doone cookie. Thanks so much for the chance to enter your
giveaway for Paige’s book.
I’ve never made shortbread cookies but with this recipe, I’m going to give it a try. I usually buy cookies from a couple of our local bakeries.
I love shortbread, but my one attempt at baking it did not turn out so well. I definitely need to try the Bird’s Custard Powder — I love the term “purveyors” — sounds so British Isles!
Would love to win this! Recipe looks yummy too, thanks!
PS: I didn’t answer the question. I’ve never tried to make shortbread so this is totally new to me.
I’ve never made shortbread before but at Christmas I started pinning a bunch of recipes to my pinterest board because I wanted to, just never got brave enough to try it.
On a more important note…THIS BOOK IS AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Paige is THE BEST!!!!!!! <3 <3 <3
My favorite shortbread cookie is my Granny’s old recipe that is titled Old Fashioned Tea Cookies. They always bring back such sweet memories of my Granny making them especially for me when we were visiting on Vacation. My father was in the military and stationed clear across the US so I only got to see her for two weeks in the summer. Dad retired when I was in high school and we moved back close to my grandparents. Granny would make them for me when I came over to help with mowing or just to visit. I still love them and make them from time to time.
Would be thrilled if I were selected to be the fortunate one to receive a hardback copy of LOST BOOKS AND OLD BONES. I love Paige Shelton’s books and have this one on my TBR list. Thank you for this great opportunity!
I make the same shortbread I’ve had all my life so of course it’s my favorite. it was my Scottish aunt’s recipe. When I was in Scotland i saw these fancy cookies–Empire Biscuits– as well as a lot of ‘millionaire’ shortbread which had a chocolate and caramel topping. OH MY! I was addicted.
We bought a box of Walker’s and a box of OReilly’s (in Ireland) and we compared the manufactured kind (never as good as home-made which is very simple to make) and we liked the OReilly’s better!
My favorite shortbread was made by a dear friend.
I don’t know if was really better than others, but it was made by her.
I don’t have a favorite shortbread recipe. There are some good commercial ones on the market. I like walkers
I enjoy eating shortbread, but I’ve never made them.
I have never made shortbread, but I love it!
I have never made shortbread before but def love it. May try this recipe
I don’t have a favorite shortbread recipe or purveyor to purchase from. Thank you for a chance to win a hardcover copy of Lost Books And Old Bones.
No I don’t have favorite
I don’t have a favorite recipe, but I do love the shortbread cookies from Panera.. I was the only one in the office when drug reps brought in cookies and donuts, I would be searching for the short bread cookies ❤❤
I love shortbread, but have never made it before. I wonder what else could be improved with that custard powder. Have this book pre-ordered!
I don’t have a recipe, but I love to eat it!
Yes, I do. I love shortbread and love to bake it!
I never had shortbread. Sounds yummy. Thanks for the chance. Maceoindo(at)yahoo(dot)com
I have a basic shortbread recipe.
“Do you have a favorite shortbread recipe or purveyor to purchase from?” I think I would buy some Walkers Shortbread, but there’s nothing better than homemade!
I don’t have a favorite recipe or store. I looked up Bird’s and it says they sell it locally. I’m going to have to check it out and make some of these biscuits.
Congratulations on the release and thanks for this opportunity! Sorry, no shortbread recipes from me!
I don’t make shortbread but we have a local bakery that makes and sells them.
I make my own shortbread cookies and another very similar at Christmas. Thank you for the recipe. Looking forward to getting this book soon.
Cynthia B
I have tried a Shortbread cookie recipe but they turned out dry. I can’t wait to try this one. Also I can’t wait to read Lost Books and Old Bones. I have already added it to My Books I want to read. Thanks for the chance to win.
Trader Joe’s has great shortbread!
Look yummy! Have to try it!
These biscuits look so good, I can’t wait to try them. The book also sounds so good. I love a good mystery.
I love shortbread but haven’t been able to achieve the right texture. I think I will try the custard powder. Thanks for the tip! Looking forward to the new book!
I don’t have a shortbread recipe but I love to eat it. Love all of Paige’s books and look forward to reading this book.
We are partial to Lavender shortbread cookies. I usually get the organic buds through Amazon.
No favorite!
No favorite but I prefer home made as long as Im not the baker!
I usually buy Walker’s. You can get it pretty much anywhere.
I always enjoy shortbread from Walkers. I’ve only been recently introduced to these wonderfully delectable treats in the past few years, and I cannot get enough of them! I hope to make my own just like theirs someday…
Thank you so much for the shortbread recipe I am going to try it.
Thanks So much for this recipe going to give it a whirl. Can’t wait to try them. Yummy.
I used to like making cookies, but I haven’t made any lately. This recipe looks great.
Anyone who makes shortbread is my favorite lol. No special recipe but they all taste yummy. Thank you for the chance
I also do not have a shortbread recipe. If the butter cookies at Christmas time are shortbread, I do really like those – so so buttery! Keeping my fingers crossed for the win!
I make my Uncle Bill’s Shortbread every holiday season – top decorated with 1/4 red and green candied cherries!!!
No fav short bread recipe. I WILL be trying this recipe.