Valentine’s Day Recipes

Heart-Shaped Shortbread Flavored with Cayenne

Ingredients:

1/2 pound butter, unsalted at room temperature

8 tablespoons superfine sugar

3 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon Cayenne pepper

Butter and sugar to line molds

heart shaped molds

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350 F. With a wooden spoon or in an electric mixer, cream

together the butter and sugar until very smooth. Sift the flour into the butter

mixture and, using your fingers, work all ingredients into a crumbly but very fine

mixture. At this point, add the cayenne pepper, or your choice of other flavorings.

Butter the molds and dust the bottom and sides with sugar. Press the shortbread

dough into the molds. Bake until golden brown. The time varies from 10 minutes

up, depending on the size of the mold. Do not overbake. Cool on racks before

unmolding.

Variations: To make the more traditional shortbread, you can substitute a few drops

of vanilla extract, 1/4 cup minced candied citron or lemon peel, or 2 tablespoons

ground blanched almonds for the cayenne pepper.

Valentine Recipes