Best Spicy Cheese Shortbread Recipes

CHEDDAR CHEESE SHORTBREAD

Steps:

• In a bowl, whisk together salt, dry mustard, and cayenne pepper and set aside.
• Mix cheese and butter with a stand or hand mixture until smooth.
• Whisk the spice mix into the flour.
• Add flour/spice mixture 1/2 cup at a time.
• Knead the dough for a few minutes until all the little pieces that were at the bottom of the mixing bowl come together.
• Roll dough into small balls, place them on a baking sheet covered with parchment or a non-stick baking pad.
• Press each small ball with a small glass or a shot glass to flatten and make a consistent size.
• Chill to dough balls for 1-2 hours.
• Preheat oven to 350°.
• Bake for 16-19 minutes until they are golden brown.
• Cool for 10 minutes before serving.

SCOTTISH SHARP-CHEDDAR SHORTBREAD

Steps:

• Using electric mixer fitted with whisk attachment, beat together butter, salt, black pepper, and cayenne at low speed just until blended. Add Cheddar and flour and mix at low speed just until smooth (do not overmix). Shape dough into disk, wrap in plastic wrap or waxed paper, and chill 30 minutes.
• Arrange racks in upper and lower thirds of oven and preheat to 350°F. Line 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper.
• On lightly floured surface, roll out dough to 1/4- to 1/8-inch-thick round. Using 1 1/2- to 2-inch round cutter, cut out rounds and arrange 1 1/2 inches apart on baking sheets. Reroll scraps if desired (rerolled scraps will be tougher).
• Bake shortbread until lightly golden and beginning to brown on edges, about 13 to 15 minutes. Cool on sheets 5 minutes, then transfer to racks to cool completely.

SPICED SHORTBREAD COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Combine flour, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves in a bowl. Cut in butter until the mixture resembles small crumbs. Pack the crumbs into a ball, then knead by hand until smooth.
• Lightly flour a work surface. Roll dough out into a thick disc, 1/4- to 1/2-inch thick. Cut out desired shapes using a cookie cutter. Place cookies on the prepared baking sheet. Gather scraps together, roll out, and repeat.
• Bake cookies in the preheated oven until edges are lightly browned, about 20 minutes.

SAVORY SHORTBREAD

Steps:

• Add flour and cayenne pepper to the bowl of a food processor; pulse to combine. Add butter, and pulse until the mixture resembles coarse meal, 8 to 10 seconds.
• Add cheese to the food processor; pulse until combined. Transfer the mixture to a large bowl.
• Using a fork, stir in milk and Worcestershire sauce until well combined. Have ready several pieces of parchment paper.
• Form mixture into two 1-inch-diameter logs, and wrap in parchment. Transfer the logs to the refrigerator, and chill until very firm, at least 1 hour.
• Heat oven to 350 degrees. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Remove logs from refrigerator, and cut each one into 1/4-inch-thick rounds. Place the rounds on prepared baking sheets, spaced 1 inch apart.
• Bake the shortbread until golden, about 12 minutes, rotating baking sheets between shelves halfway through baking.
• Transfer shortbread to wire racks to cool. Bake remaining dough. Store in an airtight container up to 2 days.

CHEDDAR SHORTBREAD ROUNDS

Steps:

• Combine flour, salt, and spices in a food processor. Add butter and process until mixture resembles coarse meal.
• Add cheese and process until dough starts to hold together. Turn out onto a lightly floured surface. Divide in half, and roll into logs about 1 1/2 inches in diameter. Wrap in plastic, and chill until firm, at least 1 hour.
• Heat oven to 350 degrees. Cut dough into 1/4 inch-thick slices and place 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheets. Bake for 10 to 15 minutes, until slightly browned. Let cool completely on cookie sheets; remove. Store in an airtight container.

SPICY CHEESE SHORTBREAD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 F.
• Toss together cheese, flour, mustard and cayenne.
• Mix in butter.
• Knead with your hands to form a dough.
• If the dough feels very dry, add a tablespoon of water.
• On a floured surface, roll out half the dough to a thickness between 1/8- and 1/4-inch.
• Cut into squares.
• Place on ungreased cookie sheets and bake 10 to 12 minutes until lightly browned on the bottom.
• Remove to a rack to cool.