Brown Sugar Shortbread

This shortbread is super easy to prepare and would be a fun recipe to make with kids.  It does not involve any type of mixer or spoons, just your hands!  You mix everything with your hands and form the dough with your hands; it makes for a very easy clean up!

This will last several days in an airtight container so it can be made ahead of time for a party and it would also ship well to out-of-town friends and relatives.  The brown sugar in these gives them a nice caramel flavor and I think they are perfect for the holidays!

Brown Sugar Shortbread

Source: Cooking Light Cooking Through the Seasons Cookbook

Yields one 8x5-inch rectangle

Ingredients

5.5 ounces all-purpose flour (about 1 1/4 cups)

3 tablespoons cornstarch

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup packed light brown sugar

7 tablespoons butter, very soft

1 1/2 teaspoons ice water

Directions

Lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cup; level with a knife.  Combine flour, cornstarch, and salt in a small bowl; stir with a whisk.

Place brown sugar and butter in a medium bowl; mix with hands until combined.  Add flour mixture and mix with hands until combined.  Sprinkle dough with ice water; knead dough lightly 4 times or just until smooth.  Wrap in plastic wrap; refrigerate 30 minutes.

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

Place dough on parchment lined baking sheet; press dough into an 8x5-inch rectangle about 3/8-inch thick.  Pierce entire surface liberally with a fork.  Bake at 325 degrees for 25 minutes or just until set and edges are slightly golden (do not over bake!).  Cut shortbread into small bars once cooled.