Orange Shortbread

I have a strange relationship with oranges. I like the colour orange, and almost anything with oranges in them. Orange chocolate, orange cake, orange cookies, orange ice cream, etc. But I don't really like eating orange as a fruit or drink it as a juice. 

So with 5 large oranges left in my fridge after making these shortbread, be prepared that my favourite "fruit" will make its appearance in the next few blog entries. ;p


Orange Shortbread (recipe from : here)

Ingredients :

• 3/4 pound (3 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
• zest of  2 large oranges
• 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/2 cup sugar mixed with the zest of one additional orange for rolling

Directions :

1) In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, mix together the butter and 1 cup of sugar until they are just combined. Add the vanilla and zest of 2 oranges. 

2) In a medium bowl, sift together the flour and salt, then add them to the butter-and-sugar mixture. Mix on low speed until the dough starts to come together (it will be very crumbly.  

3) Dump onto a surface dusted lightly with flour and roll the dough into two logs, about 2 inches in diameter. 

4) On a large plate, combine the 1/2 cup of sugar with the additional orange zest.  Roll each log in the sugar mixture and then wrap in plastic and chill for 30 minutes.

5) Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.  Slice each log into 1/4 inch slices.  

6) Bake on parchment lined baking pans for 12-15 minutes, until the edges just start to brown.  Cool on wire racks.  Store, tightly covered, at room temperature.