My peanut butter shortbread recipe came about when I was developing my Pocket Money Popcorn and Peanut Butter Shortbread recipe. The shortbread makes up the base of the bake. My intention was to make layers which stood out on their own as well as making the perfect bite. I'm so so pleased with how the shortbread turned out. I know adding peanut butter doesn't seem like the most groundbreaking thing, but it does make all the difference. Given shortbread is usually topped with sugar, it can be quite a sweet bake yet nothing more. Don't get me wrong, I love buttery shortbread. To me it's one of the best biscuits you could bake. The peanut butter enhances the shortbread as it balances the sweetness without dominating and making the flavour too much. It's very simple to throw together, although you do have to be patient and wait for it to cool once it has baked!
Makes 16-20
Hands-on Time 15 minutes plus chilling
Baking Time 30 minutes
Ingredients
190g Unsalted butter plus extra for greasing (softened)
90g Peanut butter, smooth
1/4 tsp Fine salt
110g plus 1 tbsp Caster sugar
300g Plain flour
Equipment
Scissors
Baking parchment
25cm x 20cm Deep-sided tin (Brownie tin)
Mixing bowl
Wooden spoon
Fork
Sharp knife
Cut a piece of baking parchment that can line the bottom and sides of the tin. I find it’s best to turn the tin upside down and shape the paper around the base, so it then fits the tin nicely when you go to line it.
Grease the insides of the tin with some butter and line with the parchment.
Add the peanut butter and 190g of butter to a mixing bowl and beat with a wooden spoon until light and smooth.
Add the salt and 110g of sugar and beat again.
Add the flour.
This time instead of beating the mixture, fold it into the buttercream. The aim here is to combine the flour but not overwork the dough. Scrape the dough around the sides of the bowl to clean them, and make sure you don’t leave any bits at the bottom either.
Transfer into the lined tin. I find it’s best to break up the dough if it’s lumped together so you can distribute it evenly without touching it too much.
Press the dough into the edges of the tin and flatten so it’s nice and even. Try not to handle the dough too much.
Pop the tin into the fridge to chill for at least 30 minutes.
In the meantime preheat your oven to 170°C/150°C(Fan)/325°F/Gas mark 3.
Prick the top of the shortbread all over with a fork.
Pop the tin into the oven onto a middle shelf for 30 minutes until golden.
Remove from the oven and immediately cut up the shortbread in the tin so you have nice sharp lines. Avoid scratching your tin though!
Sprinkle 1 tablespoon of sugar over the top.
Leave to sit in the tin at room temperature until cooled. At this point the shortbread should have hardened.
Enjoy!
