THOMAS KELLER SHORTBREAD COOKIES

Thomas Keller Shortbread Cookies image

Number Of Ingredients 7

3/4 cup Unsalted Butter
2 tablespoon Unsalted Butter
1/2 cup Sugar
1 teaspoon Vanilla Bean Paste
1/2 teaspoon Salt (plus 1/8t)
1 3/4 cups Flour (plus 3T)
1 cup Decorating Sanding Sugar

Steps:

Beat butter with a heavy duty electric stand mixer on medium low until smooth. Add sugar, vanilla bean paste and salt; beat until all ingredients are incorporated (2-3 min). Add flour and beat on low just until combined. Turn dough out onto a piece of parchment paper. Top with second sheet of parchment and roll dough to a 1/4" thickness. Remove top sheet and cut cookies with choice of cookie cutters. Re-roll excess dough and repeat. Place cut cookies onto parchment lined pans 3/4" apart.Cover cookies with parchment and chill until firm (about 45 min). Preheat oven to 325* and remove top layer of parchment from cookies. Sprinkle with decorating sugars and bake until gold brown (13-14 min). Cookies can be stored in an airtight container for up to 3 days.