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Mary Berry Lemon Shortbread

Mary Berry Lemon Shortbread
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Mary Berry Lemon Shortbread is a buttery, crumbly shortbread infused with the fresh flavor of lemon zest. It’s made with simple ingredients like flour, butter, sugar, and lemon, creating a melt-in-your-mouth cookie that’s light, tangy, and satisfying. The shortbread is baked until golden and then often dusted with powdered sugar for an extra touch of sweetness.

Ingredients

Scale

To make one batch (about 12-16 pieces) of lemon shortbread, gather the following ingredients:

  • 225g (1 cup) unsalted butter, softened: Adds richness and creates a crumbly texture.
  • 100g (½ cup) caster sugar: Sweetens the shortbread without overpowering the lemon flavor.
  • 225g (1 ¾ cups) plain flour: Forms the base of the shortbread.
  • 50g (½ cup) cornflour: Helps create a light, tender texture.
  • Zest of 2 lemons: Provides a fresh, zesty lemon flavor.
  • Powdered sugar (for dusting): Adds a light sweetness on top after baking (optional).

Instructions

Step 1: Preheat the Oven

  1. Preheat your oven to 160°C (320°F) and lightly grease a baking tray or line it with parchment paper.

Step 2: Cream the Butter and Sugar

  1. In a large mixing bowl, cream the softened butter and caster sugar together until light and fluffy. This can be done with an electric mixer or by hand with a wooden spoon.

Step 3: Add the Dry Ingredients

  1. Sift the plain flour and cornflour into the butter mixture.
  2. Add the lemon zest and mix everything together until a soft dough forms.

Step 4: Shape the Dough

  1. On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough to about 1 cm (⅓ inch) thick.
  2. Cut the dough into rectangular or circular shapes, or simply press it into a shortbread tin for a traditional look.

Step 5: Bake the Shortbread

  1. Place the shaped shortbread onto the prepared baking tray, leaving a little space between each piece.
  2. Bake in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes, or until the shortbread is lightly golden but still pale in the center.

Step 6: Cool and Dust with Sugar

  1. Remove the shortbread from the oven and let it cool on the baking tray for 10 minutes before transferring it to a wire rack to cool completely.
  2. Once cooled, dust with powdered sugar for a light sweetness on top.

Find it online: https://britishbakingrecipes.co.uk/mary-berry-lemon-shortbread-recipe/