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Christmas: California Walnut Shortbread House

Source of Recipe

California Walnut Commission


Recipe Introduction

Create your very own Walnut Wonderland! Three batches of dough and one batch of icing are required to make the entire house, including chimney and vestibule. One batch of dough is perfect for cookies.

List of Ingredients

Walnut Shortbread:
1 cup butter, softened 250 mL
1/2 cup superfine sugar 125 mL
1 tbsp vanilla 15 mL
2 cups all-purpose flour 500 mL
1/8 tsp salt 0.5 mL
1 cup California Walnuts, chopped 250 mL
Icing:
1/2 cup water 125 mL

1/4 cup meringue powder 50 mL
4 2/3 cups icing sugar 1150 mL





Shortbread: In large bowl, beat butter and sugar until fluffy; stir in vanilla. Add flour, salt and walnuts; stir until blended. Pat dough into ball, wrap in plastic wrap and freeze 30 minutes or until firm. Once chilled, place dough between 2 sheets of parchment paper and roll to 1/2-inch [1-cm] thickness. Cut into desired shapes for house [each piece should be no larger than 6 inches x 8 inches (15 cm x 20 cm)]; gently remove from parchment paper and place on baking sheet.

Bake shapes in centre of 300°F [150°C] oven 30 minutes or until firm and golden. Let cool completely before transferring gently to rack. Repeat with remaining house shapes.

Icing: In medium bowl, beat water and meringue powder 2 minutes or until foamy. Add icing sugar; beat 4 more minutes or until very stiff peaks form. Keep covered with damp towel to prevent drying. Makes 3 cups.

To assemble house: With pastry bag fit with desired tip, use icing to secure pieces of house together. Let sit at least 4 hours or until completely dry before decorating.

Decorate roof with California walnut halves and remainder of house with walnuts, candies and other goodies as desired.

Makes 1 house.

Click here to download the shortbread house templates

Walnut Shortbread:
1 cup butter, softened 250 mL
1/2 cup superfine sugar 125 mL
1 tbsp vanilla 15 mL
2 cups all-purpose flour 500 mL
1/8 tsp salt 0.5 mL
1 cup California Walnuts, chopped 250 mL


Icing:
1/2 cup water 125 mL
1/4 cup meringue powder 50 mL
4 2/3 cups icing sugar











Recipe

Shortbread: In large bowl, beat butter and sugar until fluffy; stir in vanilla. Add flour, salt and walnuts; stir until blended. Pat dough into ball, wrap in plastic wrap and freeze 30 minutes or until firm. Once chilled, place dough between 2 sheets of parchment paper and roll to 1/2-inch [1-cm] thickness. Cut into desired shapes for house [each piece should be no larger than 6 inches x 8 inches (15 cm x 20 cm)]; gently remove from parchment paper and place on baking sheet.

Bake shapes in centre of 300°F [150°C] oven 30 minutes or until firm and golden. Let cool completely before transferring gently to rack. Repeat with remaining house shapes.

Icing: In medium bowl, beat water and meringue powder 2 minutes or until foamy. Add icing sugar; beat 4 more minutes or until very stiff peaks form. Keep covered with damp towel to prevent drying. Makes 3 cups.

To assemble house: With pastry bag fit with desired tip, use icing to secure pieces of house together. Let sit at least 4 hours or until completely dry before decorating.

Decorate roof with California walnut halves and remainder of house with walnuts, candies and other goodies as desired.

Makes 1 house. DOWNLOAD TEMPLATES

Shortbread: In large bowl, beat butter and sugar until fluffy; stir in vanilla. Add flour, salt and walnuts; stir until blended. Pat dough into ball, wrap in plastic wrap and freeze 30 minutes or until firm. Once chilled, place dough between 2 sheets of parchment paper and roll to 1/2-inch [1-cm] thickness. Cut into desired shapes for house [each piece should be no larger than 6 inches x 8 inches (15 cm x 20 cm)]; gently remove from parchment paper and place on baking sheet.

Bake shapes in centre of 300°F [150°C] oven 30 minutes or until firm and golden. Let cool completely before transferring gently to rack. Repeat with remaining house shapes.

Icing: In medium bowl, beat water and meringue powder 2 minutes or until foamy. Add icing sugar; beat 4 more minutes or until very stiff peaks form. Keep covered with damp towel to prevent drying. Makes 3 cups.

To assemble house: With pastry bag fit with desired tip, use icing to secure pieces of house together. Let sit at least 4 hours or until completely dry before decorating.

Decorate roof with California walnut halves and remainder of house with walnuts, candies and other goodies as desired.

Makes 1 house.

DOWNLOAD SHORTBREAD HOUSE TEMPLATE

http://www.walnutinfo.com/recipes/desserts_and_baking/house_templates.pdf