Tuesday, May 1, 2012

TWD - BWJ #7 - Hungarian Shortbread


This project was something of A Comedy of Errors meets Murphy's Law for me. Oh yes, it really could be that bad. I made these cookies on April 22 because Jake and I were heading to Spain at the end of the week so I knew it was my last chance. In fact, as you're reading this, we're probably walking the streets of Barcelona or celebrating our first anniversary (which was yesterday) with Cava and something chocolatey.

Let's just say between packing and worrying I'd forgotten something, I wasn't really in the mood to make these. Especially when I saw that the recipe instructs you to grate the frozen dough. What the...? Ugh, fine. And I'd used the last of my all-purpose flour making a batch of Irish soda rolls a few days before, which I accidentally made with baking powder instead of baking soda, so I used white whole wheat for the cookies instead. It was just THAT kind of weekend.

One of the things I love about the Tuesdays With Dorie group (I know I've said it before, but I'll say it again) is that it forces encourages me to make things I otherwise wouldn't touch with a 10-foot pole. Case in point: I'm not usually a fan of things like fruit jam in my desserts. It just strikes me as wrong, somehow.

So of course, I had to do it my way in addition to the way the book does it. I used my 4" tart molds--I'm getting a lot of mileage out of these babies--to make four different versions: plain shortbread (no filling), strawberry jam, Nutella and Biscoff spread (thanks for that Wendy).


Wait. Four? But there's only three in the photo at the top. Yes well, that's because the Nutella version seemed to brown more quickly than the others so I tried to take it out early using nothing but a spatula and my superhuman reflexes. It did not end well.


I'll confess, I ate a bit of the portion that did not touch anything but the tart mold. It was good. They were all good. Jake liked the plain shortbread best (which was exactly what I predicted), but color me shocked, I think I actually liked the one with the fruit jam the best. I still have some dough in my freezer so perhaps I'll make a blackberry version after we get back from our (much-needed) vacation.


Check out all the other bakers' experiences on the TWD site and find the recipe on the blogs of this week's hostesses, Cher of The Not So Exciting Adventures of a Dabbler... and Lynette of 1smallkitchen.

7 comments:

  1. so you are telling me that despite the fact that you made these in a rush.. you still managed to come out with 4 variants!!! :)) happy anniversary!!

    ReplyDelete
  2. First of all: HAPPY 1ST ANNIVERSARY! Enjoy Barcelona (you lucky!)
    I loved your post: it made me laugh and realised that "we all have bad days in the kitchen"...BUT we do resist and persist!

    Your shortbread cakes looks fab!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Happy Anniversary! Hope you are having a lovely vacation! Too bad on the one shortbread gone awry. Love that you wound up liking the jam filled one!

    ReplyDelete
  4. I hope the trip is going great and the anniversary too!!! I love how you always try so many options!!!

    ReplyDelete
  5. I was so close to trying the Nutella myself because I feel the same way about fruit desserts, but I also liked this with fruit, go figure! I hope you are having a great trip!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Way to go with all the variations - and while getting ready for vacation to boot.
    Hope you have a great trip!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Great experiment! I'm loving all the ideas I've been seeing for when we make this again. Hope you had a wonderful vacation.

    ReplyDelete