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Hungry Girl Por Vida

Smoked Salt and Almond Shortbread Stars

December 14, 2012 by Leave a Comment

Oh, hi!

It’s been a little quiet around here, but baking/sugar cooking has been happening. Next week I’ll have an iteration of my fave caramels, but for today I have these sweet and salty shortbread stars.

I love a shortbread. The dough is easy to put together, it can chill in the fridge or freezer for days, they are super buttery, and they appeal to children and adults alike. I also love that there are multiple ways to shape them–you can press the batch into a round pan for wedges, roll it up and slice as needed, or roll it out and use cutters.

I opted to do a star shape since I got it into my head that I wanted to paint a navy background, and wouldn’t it be cute to put tiny star cookies all over it, so it could be kind of like a magical-cookie-night-sky? Yes, yes it would be and it is.

These cookies are nutty, buttery, smoky-sweet & salty. I coarsely ground the almonds so there would be some crunchy nubbins as well as fine bits throughout each bite. I used smoked salt from Allstar Organics–I love this salt for it’s intense charcoal color, deep smoke flavor, and satisfying crunch. The salt really makes these cookies–it plays so nicely with almond and lots of butter. Since these are shortbreads and shortbreads are a sturdy cookie when well packaged, they travel like a dream. The salty-nutty and just sweet flavor of these cookies make me think these would be just as welcome on a festive cheese plate as they would on a holiday cookie tray.

*As usual, all opinions are my own. Allstar Organics probably doesn’t even know who I am, I just love their Applewood Smoked salt and thought you should know it.

Smoked Salt + Almond Shortbread Stars

adapted from Martha Stewart

There are many brands of smoked salt, Maldon makes a nice, lightly smoked, flaky one. I like the Allstar salt since it is so dark and contrasts nicely. You could also just use whatever salt you have on hand–there won’t be any smoke flavor, but the cookies will be delicious regardless. The cookies hold their shape best if you chill the cut cookies on the pan before baking–about 10-15 minutes will do the trick.

2 sticks (8 ounces) unsalted butter, softened

1 cup confectioners sugar

scant 1/2 teaspoon almond extract

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 teaspoon smoked salt, plus more for sprinkling

1/3 cup coarsely ground almonds (grind in a food processor or chop by hand)

2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for rolling

With an electric mixer, beat the butter, sugar, extracts, and salt until smooth and combined. On low speed, mix in the almonds and flour until just combined.

Divide the dough and flatten into two discs. Wrap discs in plastic and chill for 30 minutes. Preheat oven to 300*F.

Using one disc at a time, roll out the dough to about 1/4 inch thickness. Using desired cutter, cut out cookies and transfer to parchment lined baking sheets. Sprinkle a bit of salt onto the tops of each cookie. Chill sheets in the refrigerator 10-15 minutes, bake 22-25 minutes or until cookies are just turning golden around the bottom edges. Remove and cool on a wire rack. Repeat with remaining dough/cookies. Can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for 2 weeks.

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Filed Under: cookie Tagged With: almond, baking, cookie, cookie cutter, dessert, holiday, recipe, shortbread, smoked salt, star, sweet

Previous Post: « Gingerbread Cake with Lemon-Ginger Cloud Frosting
Next Post: Walnut Caramels w/ Hawaiian Black Salt »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Meghan

    December 14, 2012 at 7:46 am

    I never really got into the flavored salt trend because I feel like they’re usually pretty one dimensional, but smoked salt sounds really interesting/awesome. That could be used so many different ways. You’re a great advertiser! lol

    These cookies are maybe the most creative I’ve seen in a while! Nice job!

    Reply
  2. Megan

    December 14, 2012 at 8:08 am

    Shortbread just wins, ya know? And I love the cookie constellations up in hur.

    Reply
  3. Kathryn

    December 14, 2012 at 8:15 am

    I love using a touch of smoked sea salt in baking and the idea of it paired with this buttery almond shortbread is really delightful. Must make these!

    Reply
  4. heather

    December 14, 2012 at 8:17 am

    I love shortbread too and these are adorable! That’s my kind of starry sky!

    Reply
  5. Amanda @ The Unfamiliar Kitchen

    December 14, 2012 at 11:04 am

    Holy cookie! Love the combo 🙂

    Reply
  6. Amanda @ Once Upon a Recipe

    December 14, 2012 at 11:10 am

    I LOVE shortbread. These sound delightful! I have a recipe for lemon rosemary shortbread that I’ve been dying to try too!

    Reply
  7. Eileen

    December 14, 2012 at 11:53 am

    These cookies sound amazing! Almonds and smoked salt sound like they’d be just prefect in a shortbready cookie. 🙂

    Reply
  8. Katie @ Blonde Ambition

    December 14, 2012 at 5:00 pm

    These are so cute! You were spot on with the shape and the color of the backdrop. I love shortbread, especially with nuts 🙂

    Reply
  9. Laura Dembowski

    December 14, 2012 at 7:44 pm

    Love the super festive star shape! The flavor combo sounds great too.

    Reply
  10. Adrianna from A Cozy Kitchen

    December 15, 2012 at 11:36 pm

    I love the combination of smokey and salty. Such a win! And that blue background (as the night sky) is ridiculously cute. Love, per usual.

    Reply
    • cindy

      December 16, 2012 at 6:28 am

      yes, thanks Adrianna!

      Reply
  11. Sarah

    December 16, 2012 at 2:34 pm

    The smoky, the sweet, these sound perfect for the holidays. I see a lot of people incorporating smoked salt into baked goods at the moment! Must try it…

    Reply
    • cindy

      December 17, 2012 at 5:17 am

      Thanks Sarah!

      Reply

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