Its’ the recipe for Scottish Shortbread Cookies! Cheers to it.The best cookies I have ever baked.
I <3 THESE BAKED BEAUTIES to the core..Especially for the time taken to make these.One DON’T need to worry about the accuracy of ingredients or don’t need to wait for hours together to bind the cookie dough. It is pretty much like you knead dough for chapathi or tortillas. They turned out **SUPER BUTTERY CRUNCHY** .You get the soft and melt in mouth texture from the fresh unsalted butter and the whole good crunchiness from the dash of rice flour used. The sugar sprinkles on the cookies are an extra bonus that tickle your tongue. OK truth should be revealed now.The first time I made them they came out burnt as I was too busy writing a post for the blog with half sleep mind.So I was extra careful this time not to bake them with half sleep and so you see these with their charming golden brown or should I say brown in colour.One into my mouth to see if it has been baked to crunchy..another one to check whether they have been cooled down..just another one before I pop them into the glass jar to make sure all of them fit in..and just another one before I close the lid to put them in the shelf..I ended up treating myself with half of the jar cookies,but I don’t mind as making a fresh batch again seemed so easy for me.
These damn cute cookies reminded me of my after school childhood evenings.My amma(mom) used to give two cookies from the jar that was filled every month after the grocery shopping. Anytime an extra cookie costed doing the homework in less than the stipulated time or finishing the dinner without any fuss.Ah those days!
* WARNING* this posts is going to be picture and emotion heavy as I have a deep connection with Scotland(the beautiful place on Earth according to my little brain).The reasons being
It is the beautiful place I have seen and one of my closest friend used to stay there and so I kept on visiting that place until she was there.
Remembering of the word friends passes vibrant vibes in me and reminds me of how much I love them and how important is to have them is my life.The only people who stand for me when I go through a rough patch in life or in the moments of my frustration.However busy life is I try to have a catch up with my friends at least on texts.They can make you feel life is beautiful and worth living for.They are the only people who would still give me a chance after I do 1000 mistakes and still wait for my phone call even after neglecting them for ages in the name of **busy** schedule.
How do I define a person as a good friend?I have known few people since the time I started feeling this world and thought they are the best of my friends.But they were nowhere when I have grown up and started facing the odds of life,,So it is sure not by how long I have known someone or it is not by how much we are in touch with each other.
My good friends will
Listen to me when I want to say the best of the crap.
Pack my baggage when I am making a trip.
Cook for me and help me when I prepare the food.
Tell me what to do when I don’t want to do and when I need to do,
Cheer me up and make me feel good about myself..
Tease me and make me cry without any mercy..
Encourage me to do things that come from my heart..
Love me unconditionally even with countless flaws in me.
Inspire me and help me to grow in life..
Forgive me …
Wake me up in the middle of the night to tell the most stupid thing we did together,,
Talk to my husband and tell him how stupid I can be and how to calm me..
Hold me tight in my anger too..
With one of my closest friends in Edinburgh,the capital city of Scotland..
Now the beauty part of the Scotland..I would first let the picture speak about it.
I have experienced my first snow in Scotland which made it even special in my life.The sight of these majestic snow white mountains made my heart dance as if there is no other world beautiful than this. the country has thousands of kilometres of coastline and plenty of islands which is more than enough to live for a soul like me!And there are beautiful lochs filled with splashing blue waters as far as your eye can see..I have visited Switzerland too after this country but somehow my heart still longs for the mysterious beauty in Scotland! The castles that you witness everywhere stand as silent spectators of the spectacular history and culture of this country,
A bunch of our friends drove to the highlands witnessing the stunning views of snow capped mountains and the breath taking views of the valleys filled with cute tiny sheep grazing the grass constantly.And I have been told that sheep are the speciality of Scotland as you can see them everywhere in the country side.
This is the historic Edinburgh Castle which is said that even it dominates the skyline of Edinburgh city from one point of the castle rock.We had quite a good and fun walk along with my mum. Connecting with family and friends is always refreshing to a tired mind and heart.You see that is the best medicine for most of the stress!
The cute kids performing a dance show in the traditional Scottish attire..I have visited Scotland quite a good number of times and even now my heart says yes for another holiday there!Such a mysterious beautiful place to hide out !I am very much blessed to see the beauty of Earth.What else could I ask for other than witnessing the beauty of my world..
Scottish cuisine has distinctive set of traditions and attributes of its own but shares with the wider European cuisine due to the influence of people living over there.It is said that you get the best and finest whisky in the world there.Also you get the freshest of fish there from the fresh water lochs and long coastlines.Since I don’t consume alcohol and don’t eat meat either I had to adjust my foodie heart with the famous Scottish shortbread available there.Here is my sincere trial to replicate the taste of majestic Scottish shortbread cookies that get instantly melts in your mouth as soon as the crunchy experience is over.I found that it is the easiest of the cookie recipes(at-least to me!) as you don’t need to be damn careful while mixing the ingredients and take your turn of carelessness(ofc not too much..)
Off to you guys to tell me what’s is your easiest cookie recipe.. XOXO
- 1 Cup All purpose/plain flour
- ½ Cup Rice Flour
- ¾ cup softened unslated butter
- ½ cup granulated sugar + 1 tbsp to sprinkle on cookies
- ½ tsp baking powder
- A pinch of salt to taste
- Sift the flours along with baking powder and salt so as not to form lumps while mixing the cookie dough.In a mixing bowl add the flours, sugar and softened unsalted butter.Mix it with your fingers to incorporate all the butter into it.Knead it to a smooth dough not applying too much pressure.Wrap it in a plastic cover and refrigerate it fir atleast 15min.
- Take a sheet of baking paper or plastic sheet and place a portion of the dough.Press it with your hand into a flat disc.Cut with your favourite shaped cookie cutter or simply using a knife cut into squares or rectangles.
- Take a cookie baking tray and line with baking paper.Place the cookies and make few holes on them using a tooth pick,Sprinkle some sugar on them and keep it ready for baking.Pre-heat the oven to it mximum temperature for 15 min and bake the cookies for 20-25 min approx. Never bake them more than 30 min as it can brown the cookies which is not required.We want the cookies to be whitish only.Cool them on a rack and store in air tight container.
Always use the butter at room temperature or softened as it will be easy to mix the dough.
To me it took nearly 25 min to bake the cookies but your oven temperature might vary.
Nice blog Siri!! Recipe is the easiest..I have tried the similar recipe..using ghee instead of butter. Comes out just well..Variation that was suggested by my father in law was to make it a savoury one..by adding curry leaves, green chilles, jeera n Ajwain.
Thanks Pavithra..umm that would be yum to munch on those crackers with little bit of spices loaded!
wow… Even i loved scotland. Being from a hill station myself i know how nice this place is when it rains or snows. How lucky that u got to see ur 1st snow there…:)
What are your views on scotland Independence?
Cookies looks so crunchy and cute. loved the overhead shot in 3rd last pic:)
Can;t really tell how much I enjoyed Scotland..and the sight of first snow made me do a happy dance!
Just trying my hand on the overhead shots..glad it made some sense!
Hmm..Scotland Indepdnende..better I don;t comment with half knowledge:)
Hi Siree dear.. Cookies looks awesome.. One of my favourite and clicks are excellent as always… Scotland looks so beautiful dear… One of my best friend reside there…
nice to hear from you viji, Thanks alot!
Yes I miss my friend who used to stay there
Excellent.. Missing all those moments and food… Luv you
Missing you too dear!
Love Scotland…..we spent thd best time there with family…Will try these beutiful cookies..
so cute luking cookies n nice pics…need sum time to make this,but worth try na..
Maha, Thanks for visiting. yeah they are cute beauties and i liked the part of rice flour addition in it
such cute cute cookies, Sireesha..and lovely pics of scotland. thanks for sharing
Thanks Sona, Scotland is very beautiful