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I had a crazy work schedule several weeks ago, but luckily my husband was on vacation. He didn't have any big plans and was able to take up a bit of the slack at home. I asked if he could stop at the market for me and pick up a few items for some cooking I wanted to do. He kindly obliged and decided to do the shopping at a nearby Sam's Club. If any of you shop at Sam's, you know that most everything comes in massive quantity packaging, perfect for large families and commercial purposes.
Though it's just the two of us most of the time here at The Café, I do like to stock up at big box stores like Sam's and Costco on pantry and freezer items. That way, when the urge strikes me to bake, cook or create, I don't have to go running off to the grocery store. One of the items on my list was oranges, and Scott came home with a huge bag of the sweetest, juiciest oranges you'd ever want to have the pleasure of meeting.
I was thrilled and mentioned several times how delighted I was with the yummy oranges. You'll never guess what happened a few days later when I went to grab a snack! My humungous bag of oranges had multiplied, and now a second bag awaited by astonished gaze! A magical refrigerator? No, something even better. A sweet, kind husband who, knowing how I loved those oranges, had picked up another (huge) bag for my pleasure 🙂
Oh dear, are you seeing why I had a challenge? Though I've enjoyed them on their own, unadorned, two huge bags of oranges got my imagination rolling and I've had fun using the wonderful, seasonal fruit in all kinds of recipes. I'm working on an Orange Chicken (low-fat) recipe that I hope to share soon.
And please forgive me for posting yet another shortbread recipe; if you search shortbread on The Café, I'm afraid you might think it's my middle name. A hopeless sucker for the crisp, buttery indulgence, these Orange Pecan Shortbread Cookies have a burst of bright orange flavor combined with the warmth of crushed toasted pecans. It's super simple to put together; just mix up the dough in an electric mixer, pat it in a tart or cake pan, brush with a bit of honey and finish with a shower of coarse sugar. A double (see recipe) slow baking results in a fabulous, irresistible treat I think you'll love!
Adapted from Fine Cooking
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Orange Pecan Shortbread Cookies
Ingredients
- 8 ounces cold butter, cut into ½" pieces
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ½ teaspoon table salt
- 10 ounces all-purpose flour, 2ÂĽ cups
- ½ cup toasted pecans*, toasted and ground very finely in a food processor
- 2 teaspoons loosely packed, finely grated orange zest (from 1 orange)
- 1 tablespoon honey, warmed for 10-15 seconds in microwave to thin
- Demerara, coarse sugar (for sprinkling)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 300ËšF. Spray a 10" or 11" tart pan w/ removable bottom with cooking spray.
- Combine the butter, sugar, and salt in a stand mixing bowl (use the paddle attachment) or a large regular mixing bowl. Mix on low speed until the butter combines with the sugar, but isn't perfectly smooth, 1 to 2 minutes.
- Add the flour, ground pecans, and zest; mix on low speed, scraping the bowl frequently, until the dough has just about pulled together, about 3 minutes; don't over mix.
- Press dough into tart pan. Use a flat-bottom glass to level surface. Brush the surface lightly with honey and sprinkle generously with coarse (demerara) sugar.
- Bake the cookie until golden on the bottom and edges and pale to golden on top, about 30 minutes.
- Remove from oven. Remove tart from pan by setting tart on a cutting board and cut into wedges while still hot. Carefully transfer wedges to a sheet pan and return to oven for another 15 minutes or until golden and crisp. Remove from oven and transfer to cooling rack. Cool completely before storing in an airtight container.
Notes
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I have made these yet, but all you had to say was "orange" and you had me. Will definitely be trying soon.
Enjoy, DoLee!
Made recipe to a "T", the finished dough was course crumbles, did not come together. Was more the consistency of a dessert bar base crust. I went ahead.with it after re-reading recipe to make sure I didnt miss something. Pressed into tart pan, and baked.
The taste is great, super crumbly though. Just too dry.
Hi Jessica, it's difficult to say what went wrong without having been right there in the kitchen with you. Did you use 2 sticks of butter? With 8 ounces (two sticks) of butter and only 2ÂĽ cups of flour, the dough should not be crumbly.
Hi Chris, wow..... very addictive shortbread cookies. I want 2 big pieces, please. I go make coffee now....
Beautiful click!
I would not mind seeing shortbread daily 🙂 And how sweet of your hubby, the oranges do look wonderful, as do these gorgeous cookies!
Shortbread are my favorite cookies. I bake it once a year because I eat it all! 🙂
You had me at shortbread!!! Love the addition of pecan and orange. Delish!!!!!!
They look perfect! Orange-pecan combo sounds delicious.
Aw, how sweet of him to get you so many oranges!
This looks fantastic, I really want to make this sometime!
No need to apologize for the shortbread recipes--love the orange-pecan combo here. 🙂
These look so perfect, Chris, I love that you cooked them in the tart pan, I'm going to try that with my next shortbread. That is the sweetest story!
These shortbreads look amazing!
I love shortbread, and this one sounds fabulous! And it is gorgeous. Really gorgeous. This is my first visit to your site. Congratulations - it looks wonderful.
I adore shortbread, so I hope you continue to post away. There is no such thing as too much of a good thing. This looks and sounds delicious. I hope you have a great day. Blessings...Mary
Your shortbread looks great. I clicked on the link to the raspberry muffins, and they sound amazing! What a great theme for your blog!
These would be so lovely with a cup of tea.
I can never get enough shortbread recipes from the Cafe.
what can I say Chris, they look just breathtaking, delicious!
Happy New Year my friend!
What a sweet husband! This is definitely the time of the year to enjoy some oranges, we have an abundance here in AZ! Your cookies look delicious.
Love citrus in my baked goods and this shortbread looks fabulous. I want a bite 🙂
What an incredible shortbread! Just beautiful...and loving the orange flavor!
Big fan of Sam's club too! These look terrific!
The citrus with the pecans sounds wonderful!
I think shortbread may be my favorite cookie;-)
I'm loving the idea of buttery orange shortbread cookies,yummy;-) Pretty photos;-)
Never apologize for posting shortbread. I'm a sucker for it too.
The fancy cookies are fun to make and admire but my favorite is a basic shortbread. Love the addition of ground pecans, Chris, and thanks for the tip of brushing the top of the dough with honey. I'm looking forward to trying that.
As always - beautiful photos - but I really love the flavors in this shortbread!
Mary x
What a treat this would be! This also reminds me that shortbread is something I haven't had nearly enough of.
Your shortbread looks heavenly! I love the add of seasonal fruit too.
Never, ever apologize for shortbread!!! 🙂 I think the stuff is pure heaven. My coffee's right here and I wish so much that I had a slice of your cookie to dunk in it.
Your husband is very sweet. I love that he not only took to heart your comments about loving the oranges but acted on them. What a good man.
This looks like such a delicious variation on shortbread!
I'm also a fan of shorbreads, I love the buttery sandy texture. With a cup of tea, it's perfection. I love all these recipes you presented with oranges!!!!!
Oh my! I love oranges too but find it so difficult to get ones that are not dry. Will have to keep trying.
There's nothing wrong with more shortbread in my book. And orange shortbread? Wonderful. It is so pretty - love the sugary top.
I love shortbread cookies but these sound quite unique. At first glance I thought it was toast but now realize the color comes from the pecans. I'll have to give these a whirl they sound yummy. How sweet of your husband to shower you with so many luscious oranges.
Sounds like the perfect cookie to go with my morning coffee-enjoy:@)
Like I said on Facebook, you truly are the Shortbread Queen! The only shortbread I've made isn't a true shortbread, I just used to make it with my leftover pie dough, adding powdered sugar to it, since it was mostly butter and flour anyway. Once I added orange zest to it, and it was so yummy! I can just imagine the flavors here with the citrus and pecans-amazing! Kind of like your husband. 🙂
Oranges are yummy and are great to bake with, they add a nice flavor. Your shortbread cookies looks delicious!
Your Husband is to sweet! I think that is just adorable!!! He did that though so you could make all these wonderful orange dishes! lol Your Shortbread looks good and I love beautiful sugar topping!!
Wow came out so perfect
Hi Chris,this is a very nice shortbread..Crunchy and fragrant..just perfect with a nice cup of joe..Enjoy the rest of the oranges, have a good week!
It looks lovely, especially with some tea! I need a trip to Costco!
Made in the mixer? That's my type of recipe Chris Shortbread! I actually found a deliciously-sweet bag of oranges at the markets last week too. They've been going into my smoothies every morning.
I am a pushover for shortbread too and this recipe looks quite different from any I have tried. The picture has made me want to make some right away...perhaps mid-week would work though!
Oh I love shortbread too, your orange and pecan variation is just lovely! Looking forward to your orange chicken recipe too :).