Savory Shortbread Cookies With Olives and Rosemary
An unusual combination for a cookie, the flavors in this shortbread will appeal to those who appreciate a little pop of savory in their sweets. The olives used here are fruity kalamata, which when surrounded by a buttery shortbread crust and baked, become like little jewels studding each cookie. Rosemary and lemon balance the robust flavors of the olives by adding refreshing pine and citrus notes. Your cookie dough can be made ahead of time, rolled into logs and kept refrigerated or frozen. Slice and bake while cold, or from frozen, to serve.
- Total:
- Serves: 24 persons
Ingredients
- 2cups/260 grams all-purpose flour
- ¾cup/145 granulated sugar
- ½teaspoon kosher salt (such as Diamond Crystal)
- 2teaspoons chopped fresh rosemary
- 1lemon
- ½cup/115 grams cold, unsalted butter, cut into ½-inch cubes
- ½cup chopped pitted kalamata olives
- 6tablespoons/88 milliliters heavy cream
Instructions
Step 1
In a medium bowl, combine the flour, sugar, salt and rosemary. Zest the lemon into the bowl, add the butter and rub the pieces into the flour mixture using your fingers until small pebbles form. (Alternatively, use a food processor to pulse the dry ingredients with the butter.)Step 2
Add the chopped olives, tossing to coat with the flour mixture. Pour the cream over the mixture, stir just until combined and squeeze until the dough comes together in a clump. Divide the dough in two equal 9-inch logs. Wrap each log firmly in a strip of parchment paper and twist the ends shut. Refrigerate until the dough is firm enough to slice, about 30 minutes and up to 3 days.Step 3
Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper. Slice each log into ½-inch rounds. Lay the rounds on the prepared baking sheet, spacing at least ½ inch apart.Step 4
Bake until the cookies are golden at the bottom edges, about 22 minutes, rotating once halfway through baking. Move the cookies to a wire rack to cool completely. Store at room temperature in an airtight container for up to 3 days. The baked cookies can also be stored frozen in an airtight container for up to 5 days. Thaw at room temperature before serving.