Chocolate Topped Shortbread Slices Recipes

Steps:

• In a bowl, cream butter, sugar and salt until fluffy. Gradually beat in flour. Spread into a greased 13x9-in. baking pan. Bake at 350° until lightly browned, 16-20 minutes. , In a microwave-safe bowl, combine condensed milk and chocolate chips. Microwave, uncovered, on high until chips are melted, 30-60 seconds; stir until smooth. Stir in extract. Spread over the shortbread. Sprinkle with almonds and press down. Refrigerate until firm. Cut into squares.

Steps:

• Line an 8cm x 20cm loaf tin with non-stick baking paper. Place the cream, chocolate and butter in a medium saucepan over low heat and stir until melted and smooth. Pour one-third of the chocolate mixture into the tin. Arrange half the shortbread in the tin. Pour half the remaining chocolate mixture over the shortbread. Repeat with the remaining shortbread and chocolate and smooth the top. Refrigerate for 3-4 hours or until set. Remove the slice from the tin and dust with cocoa. Slice, using a hot knife, to serve.

Steps:

• Line two rimmed baking sheets with parchment paper. Using a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment or an electric hand mixer, beat the butter, both sugars and vanilla on medium-high till it's super light and fluffy (3 to 5 minutes for a stand mixer; 6 to 8 for a hand mixer). Using a spatula, scrape down the sides of the bowl and, with the mixer on low, slowly add the flour, followed by the chocolate chunks, and mix just to blend. If necessary, knead the dough with your hands to make sure the flour is totally incorporated. At this point, the dough should be smooth and feel like Play-Doh with no pockets of flour.
• Divide the dough in half, placing each half on a large piece of plastic wrap. Fold the plastic over so that it covers the dough to protect your hands from getting all sticky. Using your hands, form the dough into a log shape; rolling it on the counter will help you smooth it out, but don't worry about getting it totally perfect. (Don't be afraid to make them compact. Shortbread is supposed to be dense. That's part of why it's so good.) You can also do this using parchment paper, if you prefer, but plastic wrap is easier when it comes to shaping the log. Each half should form a 6-inch log, 2 to 2¼ inches in diameter. Chill until totally firm, about 2 hours.
• Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Brush the outside of the logs with the beaten egg and roll them in the demerara sugar (this is for those really delicious, crisp edges).
• Using a serrated knife, carefully slice each log into ½-inch-thick rounds (if you hit a chocolate chunk, slowly saw back and forth through the chocolate). If the cookies break or fall apart, just press them back together - the dough is very forgiving. Place them on the prepared baking sheets about 1 inch apart (they won't spread much). Sprinkle with flaky salt. Bake until the edges are just beginning to brown, 12 to 15 minutes. Let cool slightly before eating them all.

Steps:

• In a large bowl mix flour and sugar,add butter and mix to resemble breadcrumbs.
• keep mixing with hands and knead until mixture forms a soft dough.
• Handle gently so not to overwork the dough.
• Line an 8 inch square tin approx 2 inch deep with foil or greaseproof paper,pre heat oven to 200c/gas6 Press mixture into tin with hands flattening it and spreading it flat until it covers the whole area.
• Prick all over with a fork to prevent air bubbles making it rise too much.
• Bake on centre shelf for 30 mins or until just golden brown and firm to touch.
• Don't let it overbrown or it will spoil the taste and be hard.
• When it has just come from the oven mark into slices or squares (how big is up to you but I usually make 12 slices).
• Leave to cool in the tin and turn out onto a cooling rack when cold.
• Cover each slice with melted chocolate and sprinkle hundreds& thousands whilst choc is still wet.
• Leave to set then store in an airtight tin.

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Lightly grease and line a 20-22cm square or rectangular baking tin with a lip of at least 3cm.
• To make the shortbread, mix 250g plain flour and 75g caster sugar in a bowl. Rub in 175g softened butter until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs.
• Knead the mixture together until it forms a dough, then press into the base of the prepared tin.
• Prick the shortbread lightly with a fork and bake for 20 minutes or until firm to the touch and very lightly browned. Leave to cool in the tin.
• To make the caramel, place 100g butter or margarine, 100g light muscovado sugar and the can of condensed milk in a pan and heat gently until the sugar has dissolved. Continually stir with a spatula to make sure no sugar sticks to the bottom of the pan. (This can leave brown specks in the caramel but won't affect the flavour.)
• Turn up the heat to medium high, stirring all the time, and bring to the boil, then lower the heat back to low and stirring continuously, for about 5-10 minutes or until the mixture has thickened slightly. Pour over the shortbread and leave to cool.
• For the topping, melt 200g plain or milk chocolate slowly in a bowl over a pan of hot water. Pour over the cold caramel and leave to set. Cut into squares or bars with a hot knife.