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Allison's Honeyed Almond-Cherry Shortbread

Allison's Honeyed Almond-Cherry Shortbread

Dried fruit and nuts may be the ingredients for traditional fruitcake, but here they shine in Allison Hedges' lusciously dense cookies. The secret is in the prep work: Cherries are soaked in sherry with citrus zest, and almonds get a salty-sweet coating for "pockets of deliciousness."

Martha Stewart Living, December 2009 http://www.marthastewart.com/332858/allisons-honeyed-almond-cherry-shortbrea
3.37143
Rated
67.4286100(36)36
  • Yield Makes 4 dozen

Ingredients

  • For the Cookie Dough

    • 8 ounces (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
    • 3/4 cup confectioners' sugar
    • 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
    • 1 1/4 teaspoons coarse salt

  • For the Honeyed Almonds

    • 1/2 cup honey
    • 1 ounce (2 tablespoons) unsalted butter
    • 2 cups lightly toasted sliced almonds
    • 1/2 teaspoon coarse salt
    • 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

  • For the Macerated Cherries

    • 1 cup dried cherries, roughly chopped
    • 2 tablespoons dry sherry
    • 1 tablespoon finely grated tangerine or orange zest

Directions

  1. Prepare the macerated cherries: Combine all ingredients in a medium bowl, and toss to combine. Let stand for about 1 hour, stirring occasionally.
  2. Make the honeyed almonds: Cook honey and butter in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, stirring constantly, until fragrant and deep amber, about 5 minutes. Add almonds, salt, and vanilla. Stir to coat completely. Remove from heat, and spread on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Let cool, about 30 minutes, then coarsely chop.
  3. Make the dough: Beat butter and sugar with a mixer on medium speed until pale and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add macerated cherries, and mix until combined. Add flour and salt, and mix until dough just comes together, about 1 minute. Add honeyed almonds, and mix until just combined.
  4. Turn out dough onto a piece of parchment, and form into a 2 1/2-by-16-inch rectangular log, pressing edges with a ruler to shape; wrap in parchment. Refrigerate until firm, at least 1 hour or up to 2 days. (Dough can be frozen for up to 3 months.) Cut dough into 1/4-inch-thick slices, and arrange on parchment-lined baking sheets. Chill in refrigerator for 1 hour.
  5. Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Bake until cookies are golden and set, 30 to 35 minutes. Let cool completely on baking sheets.

Cook's Note

Cookies can be stored at room temperature for up to 2 days.

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