Description
Jalapeno shortbread brings together zesty peppers and rich butter in a savory cookie. Crisp edges and spicy notes make this shortbread irresistible for you to enjoy alongside a cool beverage.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups (470 ml) grated cheddar or pepper jack cheese
- 1 egg, lightly beaten
- 2–3 fresh jalapeño peppers, finely minced
- 1 ½ cups (180 g) all-purpose flour
- ½ tsp salt
- 8 tbsps (1 stick/113 g) cold butter, cubed
Instructions
- Dough Preparation: Whisk flour and salt in a large mixing bowl, creating a uniform dry foundation that promises consistent flavor throughout the shortbread.
- Butter Integration: Incorporate cold butter cubes into the flour mixture, using a pastry blender to break down the butter until the texture mimics coarse, crumbly breadcrumbs with a light, aerated consistency.
- Moisture Binding: Fold the beaten egg into the crumbly mixture, gently stirring until the dough coheres into a unified mass that holds together effortlessly.
- Flavor Enhancement: Delicately mix grated cheese and finely chopped jalapeños throughout the dough, creating a vibrant, speckled blend that promises a burst of zesty excitement in every bite.
- Dough Conditioning: Shape the dough into a compact sphere, wrap securely in plastic, and refrigerate for one hour to solidify ingredients and intensify flavor development.
- Oven Preparation: Preheat the oven to 400°F, positioning the rack centrally and lining a baking sheet with parchment paper to ensure seamless shortbread release.
- Shaping and Positioning: Retrieve chilled dough and craft uniform one-inch spheres, arranging them strategically on the baking sheet with adequate spacing to prevent merging during baking.
- Baking Process: Gently flatten each dough ball and slide the baking sheet into the preheated oven, allowing the shortbreads to transform into golden-edged delicacies over 14-18 minutes.
- Cooling and Finishing: Once baked, let the shortbreads rest on the baking sheet for five minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely, ensuring a crisp, perfect texture.
Notes
- Chill Butter Thoroughly: Cold butter is crucial for achieving the perfect crumbly texture in shortbread, ensuring a flaky and delicate final product.
- Handling Jalapeños Carefully: Wear gloves when chopping to prevent skin irritation and wash hands immediately after preparing to avoid transferring heat to eyes or sensitive areas.
- Even Sizing Matters: Uniform dough balls guarantee consistent baking, preventing some cookies from burning while others remain undercooked.
- Cooling Technique: Letting shortbreads rest on the baking sheet for five minutes before transferring helps them set and prevents crumbling, creating a more stable cookie.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 14-18 minutes
- Category: Snacks, Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 13
- Calories: 201
- Sugar: 0.4 g
- Sodium: 150 mg
- Fat: 14 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 17 g
- Fiber: 0.6 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 34 mg