Blueberry Shortbread Bars (by Foodwishes.com)

 

Blueberry Shortbread Bars

 

 

Ingredients for 12 bars:

185g (by weight) AP flour (about 1 1/2 cups of sifted flour, aka not packed)

1/2 cup white sugar
1/4 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 tsp Chinese 5-spice (or a pinch of cinnamon and nutmeg)

115g (1/2 cup) very cold unsalted butter, cubed
1 egg yolk

1/2 teaspoon ice water, dripped over mixture

about 3/4 cup blueberries, or enough to cover surface

 

 

Put flour, sugar, baking powder and salt in a bowl. Using a whisk, whisk the dry ingredients until very well combined (alternatively, sift the ingredients together into the bowl). Add a pinch of Chinese 5-spice (or a pinch of cinnamon and nutmeg), mix into the flour. Add the cubed butter and cut it into the flour mixture using a pastry cutter, fork or your fingertips. When the mixture resembles coarse breadcrumbs, add the egg yolk. Keep cutting yolk and butter into the flour. Add the iced water and keep mixing until you have a crumby, dry looking mixture which will, however, come together to a dough when squeezing it between your fingers. Pour about three quarters of the mixture into a lightly greased square 22cm baking dish. Press down the mixture firmly with the back of a spoon. Add blueberries in a single layer with the berries not quite touching each other. Pour over the rest of the shortbread mixture and press down lightly onto the blueberries. Bake at 190°C for 30-35 minutes. Let cool completely before serving.

(as seen on http://foodwishes.blogspot.ie/2012/08/blueberry-shortbread-bars-please-dont.html)