Chocolate Chip Shortbread

Shortbread is one of those most delicious of things that it can easily become quite addictive . . . buttery and short textured, with just the right amount of sweetness so as not to be cloying, it quite readily accepts additional flavours . . . without them clashing . . .



Tasty things like candied ginger . . . glace cherries . . . toasted nuts . . . chocolate chips . . . . ahhh . . .



Chocolate Chips!!!



Most certainly inspired, these are absolutely fabulous. I am wondering now why I didn't think to add some toasted pecans and then mini marshmallows . . . I guess it would have been Rocky Road Shortbread then . . .



And even more addictively scrummy . . .



but never mind . . . there's always the next time. ?

You may want to keep these under lock and key . . . if they last even that long. They'll be so incredibly popular that they are bound to disappear in the blink of an eye!



What a shame . . . you'll just have to make them again, I guess . . .

and again . . . and again . . . and . . . again!



Some hints for making moreishly addictive shortbreads: Use ONLY butter, there are no substitutes. Do NOT overbake. The biscuits should be a pale golden colour, NOT golden brown. Work quickly and do NOT overwork the dough. The heat from your hands can easily turn it oily. Use ONLY your fingertips and just work the dough until it begins to come together. Use a LIGHT hand when patting it into the pan also. They can also be rolled out and cut like sugar cookies, but again, try only to re-roll them as little as possible.

Go on . . . take a bite. You know you want to!!



*Chocolate Chip Shortbread*
Serves 8
Printable Recipe

A delicious buttery shortbread biscuit, topped with lovely semi sweet chocolate chips. Mmmm . . . the perfect thing to go with your afternoon cuppa!

4 ounces plain flour
2 ounces cornflour
2 ounces golden caster sugar
4 ounces cold butter, diced
(plus extra for buttering the pan)
2 ounces semi sweet chocolate chips

Preheat the oven to 160*C/325*F. Butter a 9 inch loose bottomed tart tin. Set aside.

Sift the flour and cornflour into a bowl. Whisk in the sugar. Drop in the butter and rub it in with your fingertips until the mixture starts to bind together. Turn into the prepared pan and press evenly over the base with your fingertips, smoothing it out as evenly as possible. Prick all over with a fork. Sprinkle the chocolate chips over the surface and then press them lightly into the dough.

Bake in the heated oven for 25 to 40 minutes, or until cooked, but not browned. Immediately mark into 8 portions with a sharp knife. Allow to cool in the tin for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.