Chocolate Dipped Scottish Shortbread

Shortbread....is one of my favourite cookies..and I am making some melted chocolate as the coating for my shortbread today.

Ingredients:

Conversion calculator for measurement-->http://www.dianasdesserts.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/tools.measures/Measures.cfm

2 cups (260g) all purpose flour

1/4 tsp (2g) salt

1 cup (2 sticks or 226g)unsalted butter, room temperature

1/2 cup (60g) confectioners sugar

1 tsp (4g) pure vanilla extract

For chocolate dipped shortbread:

6 ounces (180g) semi sweet or bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped

Instructions:

1.In a large bowl, sieve the flour, mix with salt and set aside.

2. In the bowl of electric mixer, beat the butter until smooth and creamy (about 1 minute).

3. Add the sugar and beat until smooth (about 2 minutes).

4. Beat in the vanilla extract.

5. Gently stir in the flour mixture just until incorporated.

6. Shape the dough into two logs, and wrap them in wax paper.

7. Chill the dough for at least one hour.

8. When ready to bake, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (177 degrees C) with the rack in the middle of the oven.

9. If logs are frozen, let stand at room temperature for 10 minutes. Slice the logs into thin slice cookies. Place cookies 1 inch apart on parchment paper-lined cookie sheets (I am using nonstick silicone baking mat).

10. Bake for 8-10 minutes, or until cookies are very lightly browned. Cool on a wire rack.

For chocolate dipped shortbread:

1. Place 3 ounces (90g) of the finely chopped chocolate in a heatproof bowl and place it over a saucepan of simmering water.

2. Once the chocolate has melted, remove it from the heat. Add the remaining chocolate and stir with a spoon until it has completely melted and is smooth and glossy.

3. Taking one cookie at a time, dip one end of each cookies in the melted chocolate and place it on a parchment lined baking sheet.

4. Once all the cookies have been dipped into the chocolate, place the baking sheets n the refrigerator for about 10minutes, or until the chocolate has hardened.

Bought a new kitchen scale...

The dough..

Dough is frozen in the freezer, for easier cutting...

Baking..

Melted Ghirardelli chocolate...

Shortbread goes well with a cup of hot coffee...