BUTTER SHORTBREAD COOKIES

Butter Shortbread Cookies image

Provided by Ming Tsai

Yield Makes 4 logs 10 inches long by 1 1/4 inches in diameter

Number Of Ingredients 7

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1 1/2 cups (3 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 1/3 cups sugar
2 teaspoons kosher salt
3 egg yolks
2 tablespoons vanilla extract
Interior scrapings of 1/2 split vanilla bean, preferably Tahitian
3 3/4 cups all-purpose flour

Steps:

1. In the bowl of a mixer, combine butter, sugar and salt and cream on medium speed until blended, about 2 minutes. One by one, add the egg yolks, mixing until incorporated. Add the vanilla extract and the scrapings of the vanilla bean. Scrape down the bowl.
2. Turn the mixer off and add the flour. Turn the machine to low and mix until the flour is completely incorporated. Remove the dough from the bowl. Working on parchment or wax paper, form dough into 4 logs 10 inches long and 1 1/4 inches in diameter; wrap and chill.
3. Use each log to make a different cookie: classic shortbread , five-spice shortbread , double chocolate-ginger shortbread , and .