Elisabeth Prueitt, Shortbread

1 cup + 2 tblspns Unsalted butter, very soft
1/2 tspn salt
1 3/4 cups+ 2 tblspn All purpose flour
1/2 cup + 2 tblspn Cornstarch
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup superfine or granulated sugar for topping


1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Butter a 6-10 inch glass baking dish.

2. Place the bitter in a mixing bowl. The butter must be very soft- consistency of mayonnaise or whipped cream. Add the salt to the butter and mix well with a wooden spoon or whisk so that it dissolves completely before you add the rest of the ingredients. Sift the flour and the cornstach together into a bowl. Add the granulated sugar to the butter and mix just until combined. Add the flour mixture and mix just until a smooth dough forms.

3. Pat the dough evenly into thte prepared baking dish. The dough should be no more than 2/3 inch deep. Bake until the top and bottom are lightly browned about 30 minutes. The middle of the shortbread should remain light. Let cool on a wire rack until warm to the touch.

4. Sprinkle the shortbread with the superfine or granulated sugar. Tily the dish so that the sugar fully and evenly coats the surface and then tip out the excess sugar. With a very thin, sharp knife, cut the shortbread into rectangular fingers about 1/2 inch wide and 2 inches long. If the cookies have becom cold they will not slice well, so they must warm to the touch at this point. Chill thoroughly before removing from the baking dish. (will keep up to 2 weeks)