Shelly's Recipe

WALNUT PRALINE SHORTBREAD

Category: Cookies

Praline
2 tbsp light brown sugar
2 tbsp granulated sugar
2 tbsp butter
1/4 cup honey
1/4 cup heavy cream

In a small, heavy-bottom saucepan over medium-high heat, combine the brown sugar, sugar, butter and honey. Stir until the mixture comes to a boil, then whisk constantly for 3 minutes. Remove from heat, cool for 1 minute, then slowly whisk in the cream. This makes about one-half cup praline base.

Shortbread and assembly
2 cups flour
2 cups walnuts
1/2 tsp plus 1/8 tsp salt
1/4 cup cornstarch
3/4 cup butter, softened, plus extra for buttering the pans
1 cup plus 2 tsp sugar
Praline base
1/4 cup finely chopped walnuts

In the bowl of a food processor, blend together the flour, walnuts, salt and cornstarch until finely ground and fully combined.

In the bowl, beat the butter and sugar until combined and just fluffy. Fold the dry ingredients into the butter mixture until completely combined. Halve the mixture and roll each half into a log about 1 3/4 inches thick (the diameter of the log should match the diameter of the base of the mini-muffin molds). Roll the logs tightly in plastic wrap or parchment paper and refrigerate until chilled and solid, at least 1 hour.

Heat the oven to 375 and grease the mini-muffin pans. Unwrap 1 log at a time and cut crosswise into about one-third inch coins. Place each coin in a greased mini-muffin mold, and repeat until all of the molds are filled. If you have not yet used all of the dough, chill the remaining dough until ready to cut.

Using a half-tsp spoon measure, make an indentation in each shortbread coin. Fill each shortbread coin with one-half tsp of the praline base, then sprinkle over some of the chopped walnuts. Bake each tray until the shortbread is set and golden brown, about 10 to 15 minutes. Remove and cool slightly before unmolding. Repeat with the remaining dough.