Rum Raisin Shortbread Cookies Recipes

Steps:

• Bring the raisins and rum to a boil in a small saucepan over moderate heat. Remove from the heat, cover, and let stand for several hours or overnight. When ready to bake the cookies drain the raisins in a strainer set over a small bowl; use any leftover rum for something else.
• Sift together the sifted flour, baking powder and salt. Set aside.
• In the large bowl of an electric mixer cream the butter until it is very soft. Add the sugar and beat well until completely smooth. On low speed gradually add the sifted dry ingredients, scraping the bowl with a rubber spatula and beating until smooth.
• Stir in the prepared raisins. Transfer the dough to a large piece of wax paper or aluminum foil, wrap, flatten slightly, and refrigerate for about 1 1/2 to 2 hours. Do not freeze the dough or it will become too firm to roll.
• When ready to bake the cookies adjust two racks to divide the oven into thirds and preheat to 375 degrees F.
• Place the dough on lightly floured pastry cloth and turn it over to flour all sides lightly. With a floured rolling pin roll the dough gently only until it is 1/2-inch thick, no thinner!
• Use a plain round cookie cutter about 2 1/2-inches in diameter. Dip the cutter in flour before cutting each cookie and cut them as close to each other as possible. When cutting a cookie press the cutter very firmly into the dough and rotate it slightly in order to cut through the raisins. Press the scraps together, chill them, and reroll. Place the cookies 1 to 2 inches apart on unbuttered cookie sheets.
• Bake the cookies for 20 minutes, or until cookies are golden brown. Reverse the sheets top to bottom and front to back to insure even browning. With a wide metal spatula transfer the cookies to racks to cool.
• Since these are fragile the author likes to wrap them individually in clear cellophane. However you store them-handle with care.

Steps:

• Combine rum and currants in an airtight container; let sit at room temperature overnight. Drain; reserving 2 tablespoons rum.
• Put butter, confectioners' sugar, and zest in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Beat until creamy and smooth, about 2 minutes. Add vanilla and reserved rum. Beat well, scraping down the sides of the bowl as necessary. Reduce speed to low. Add flour, coconut, and salt, and beat for 3 minutes. Stir in currants by hand. Divide dough in half and form each into a log about 1/2 inches in diameter; wrap in parchment, and refrigerate 1 hour (or up to 3 days).
• Preheat oven to 325°F. Remove dough from parchment; slice into 1/4-inch-thick rounds.
• Place on parchment paper-lined baking sheets, spacing about 1 inch apart. Bake until pale golden, about 20 minutes, rotating sheets halfway through. Transfer to wire racks to cool completely. Cookies can be stored in airtight containers at room temperature up to 1 week.

Steps:

• 1. Combine rum and currants; cover, and let stand at room temperature overnight. Drain, reserving 2 tablespoons rum.
• 2. Beat butter, sugar, and orange zest with a mixer on medium speed until creamy and smooth, about 2 minutes. Add vanilla and reserved rum, and beat until combined. Reduce speed to low. Add flour, coconut, and salt, and beat for 3 minutes. Stir in currants.
• 3. Form dough into 2 logs, each about 1 1/2 inches in diameter; wrap in parchment and refrigerate 1 hour (or up to 3 days).
• 4. Preheat oven to 325F. Remove parchment. Slice logs into 1/4 inch thick rounds, and space about 1 inch apart on baking sheets lined with parchment. Bake until pale golden, about 20 minutes. Let cool.

Steps:

• Heat raisins, water and rum to boiling in 1-quart saucepan; reduce heat. Simmer uncovered 20 to 30 minutes or until raisins are plump and liquid has evaporated. Cool raisins 30 minutes.
• Heat oven to 375º. Beat sugar and butter in large bowl with electric mixer on medium speed about 3 minutes or until fluffy, or mix with spoon. Beat in egg. Stir in remaining ingredients. Stir in raisins.
• Drop dough by rounded tablespoonfuls about 2 inches apart onto ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 9 to 11 minutes or until light brown. Remove from cookie sheet to wire rack.