Sunday, May 13, 2018

Easy Scottish Shortbread Cookies from Amanda Flower



 







A warm welcome to Amanda Flower who has a new book out! FLOWERS AND FOUL play takes place in Scotland, and poor Amanda had to take a trip there to get the scoop on magical gardens and shortbread!

Don't miss her giveaway at the bottom of the post!









When I was in Scotland researching Flowers and Foul Play, I think I may have eaten my weight in Scottish shortbread cookies. It seemed to me there was a Walkers Shortbread shop in every city I visited and even in many of the villages. When I went back to my B&B for the night after a day of research, I found that the maid put a piece of shortbread on my pillow. I became accustomed to having shortbread and tea every evening before bed, and I felt VERY Scottish, even though I don’t actually have a drop of Scottish blood in me.

Of course, you can buy Walkers shortbread here in the U.S., but after my trip to Scotland, I thought I would try my hand at making it. Enjoy this recipe inspired by my travels to research Flowers and Foul Play, the first in the Magic Garden Mysteries set in Scotland. My protagonist Fiona Knox inherits a magical garden in Scotland just in time to solve a murder!

Easy Scottish Shortbread Cookies

Ingredients:

1 cup butter (softened)
4 cups all purpose flour
1 cup brown sugar
9x 13 inch pan


Steps:
  1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees.
  2. Cream brown sugar and butter together.
  3. Add half of the flour to the butter and sugar and begin to knead, slowly added the rest of the flour as you knead until the consistency is a little like Play-Doh.
  4. Press dough firmly into a 9x13 inch pan and prick up and down the dough with a fork.
  5. Bake for 30 minutes or until a light golden brown.
  6. Cut while still warm and cool cookies on a wire rack.
  7. Enjoy with a cup of tea! Scottish breakfast is my favorite!









Amanda Flower, a USA Today bestselling and Agatha Award-winning mystery author, started her writing career in elementary school when she read a story she wrote to her sixth grade class and had the class in stitches with her description of being stuck on the top of a Ferris wheel. She knew at that moment she’d found her calling of making people laugh with her words.  In addition to being an author, Amanda is librarian in Northeast Ohio. Flowers and Foul Play is the first novel in her Magic Garden Mystery Series set in Scotland.

Amanda is giving away a copy of FLOWERS AND FOUL PLAY to one lucky person who leaves a comment here. Giveaway closes at midnight eastern time on Tuesday.

57 comments:

  1. This is the easiest I have seen for short bread.

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  2. Is there anything better than a shortbread cookie to lift your spirits? I have a favorite place in Ireland that makes incredible ones, but it's kind of far to go. This sounds like a great alternative.

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  3. I love shortbread and it is one of the simpler recipes I have seen for it. Hope you had a fantatic time in Scotland researching for the book.
    little lamb lst at yahoo dot com

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  4. I like the short ingredient list

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  5. Imagine your research trip to Scotland was amazing. Nothing quite measures up to sampling something from where it originated like the shortbread cookies.

    What a simple recipe to turn our such yummy results. I will definitely be trying this recipe. Thanks!

    "FLOWERS AND FOUL" has been on my TBR list since I first heard about it. Appreciate the chance to win a copy!
    2clowns at arkansas dot net

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  6. This recipe looks easy enough even for me. The new series sounds great. ckmbeg@gmail.com

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  7. Scottish Shortbread was my Mom's favorite thing to have with tea in the evening. I'll be trying this recipe. It's a bit different from Mom's but I bet she would've loved it! Thank you for sharing it.

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  8. Thank you for this recipe, it seems pretty easy. (I am not a Baker, and usually run from anything that I know I cant make) i am excited to try this one.

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  9. Love shortbread done well. looking forward to trying ths recipe.

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  10. This will be the first Mother’s Day without my mom, and she loved shortbread, so thank you for the recipe - I’ll make some in her honor. :)

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  11. That looks like a recipe even I can make! Thanks for sharing. mbradeen@yahoo.com

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  12. The book and recipe both sound wonderful! Thanks for sharing! I look forward to both. My husband loves shortbread and I love mysteries! Michelle_english_major@hotmail.com

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  13. I LOVE shortbread with tea -- a lovely way to start and end the day. Thanks for the delicious recipe -- I love that it is so simple and also that it has one whole cup of butter in it -- YUM! bobandcelia@sbcglobal.net

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  14. The recipe looks easy to make but probably not weight watcher friendly. I'd kill to visit Scotland before I'm too old to make the trip. In place of that I'd enjoy winning your new book.

    NoraAdrienne (at) gmail (dot) com

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  15. This is so delectable since I love shortbread. Such a great treat with tea. Your book would be enjoyed greatly. thanks. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

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  16. Thanks for sharing love books with recipes. Can't wait to read! bjbiskey@msn.com

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  17. I love shortbread cookies! Definitely trying this recipe. The book looks good, too!
    Debbie(dot)Erickson14(at)gmail(dot)com

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  18. Hi. Marlene here. I want to say that that recipe sounds so easy. I enjoy Amanda's books. Thanks for the chance to win one.
    ezellmarlene(at)gmail(dot)com

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  19. What a wonderful shortbread recipe. Shortbread is my favorite biscuit and I will be making these for my grandchildren. elliotbencan(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  20. I don't think I could mess up this recipe. I think I should make some today. Thanks!
    lkish77123 at gmail dot com

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  21. What a simple recipe for shortbread. I could definitely make this. lol Another book added to my TBR list and can't wait to read it. brichardson0056(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  22. Can't wait to try this. I love new recipes and new books.I love the cover it is so cute. Thank you for the opportunity to try and win.

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  23. Shortbread is one of my favorite cookies. Thanks to Amanda for coming up with a new series. My fingers are crossed. robeader53(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  24. Utter simplicity! Butter, sugar, and flour.
    Yum.
    libbydodd at comcast dot net

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  25. I love shortbread but never have tried to make it. You might have inspired me! NE Ohio? Whereabouts? We moved to Hudson back in the early 80s and lived there until 2000 when we moved on again.
    patdupuy@yahoo.com

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    Replies
    1. Question: do I need to grease and flour the pan?

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  26. I love the recipe, and the book sounds great. It must have been a fantastic research trip. Thank you for this chance! areewekidding(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  27. I love shortbread. I'll never forget the one time I got some homemade as a Christmas gift and left it under my Christmas tree. The next morning I discovered my dog had opened the package and ate all my shortbread. I may have cried.

    I love that this recipe is so easy and with so few ingredients. Thanks for sharing!

    cozyupwithkathy @ gmail dot com

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  28. I usually have milk with cookies. Switching to hot tea for this one! I enjoyed reading "Flowers and Foul Play". Looking forward to the next one in this series.

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  29. I love shortbread cookies. Thanks for the contest! Jenniferkrameraz at gmail

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  30. Poor you, needing to go to Scotland to do research! I am so glad you have a new series for all of us to call in love with! Thank you so much for the giveaway!
    debprice60@gmail.com

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  31. Love having shortbread cookies with my tea - thanks for the recipe!

    jtcgc at yahoo dot com

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  32. I love shortbread cookies! This is a must try recipe. Reading while munching on cookies sounds like my kind of afternoon.
    seffichinchilla@outlook.com

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  33. Your recipe looks easy. Looking forward to your new book.

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  34. I really like shortbread cookies and this looks like a recipe I could make. Love the cover of your new book and I'm looking forward to reading it.
    diannekc8(at)gmail(dot)com

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  35. I would love to read this book. I love your books! They are all so good.
    Thanks for a chance at the giveaway.
    faithdcreech at gmail dot com

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  36. Sounds yummy! Even more so to have a research trip to Scotland! Can't wait to see it through your eyes and mystery. Thanks for the chance to win! jeaniedannheim (at) ymail (dot) com

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  37. Taylor R WilliamsMay 13, 2018 at 6:04 PM

    Super recipe - can't wait to try it and to read your book ! trwilliams69 at msn dot com

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  38. I love shortbread. Try them with a recipie from Joanne Fluke called Highland Bars,shortbread with a chocolate brownie on top. So yummy.

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  39. Thanks for the chance! Looks yummy! Maceoindo(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  40. This looks like a great recipe. Looks like I might have to try it out!

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  41. Love shortbread! Thanks for the recipe. So excited about Flowers and Foul Play!

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  42. Shortbread cookies bring back great memories for me. Before my Aunt passed away 4 years ago, she and I would have shortbread cookies and tea when I'd visit her and after we got back from her grocery shopping and doctor appointments. It was a nice time to sit and just talk and slow down for a bit.
    scarletbegonia5858(at)gmail(dot)com

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  43. The debut of your new series sounds delightful Amanda! Thanks for a chance to win it! I had friend who was up in years when I met her. She lived right next door and I took care of her when she fell and needed someone to help her at home. She ended up having a stroke and went into a nursing home. Having to give up her apartment was rough on her. She was a very independent woman. One day when I went to the nursing home to visit her, she was in a tizzy. I asked her what was wrong. She said, "these people won't let me use the kitchen to make my shortbread cookies!" I went to the person in charge and he told me that because of their insurance, none of the residents could use the kitchen. I relayed the message to her and she was still upset. You see, Myrtle was 97 years old and had made shortbread cookies for friends and neighbors every Christmas season for seventy some years. I sure miss my old friend.

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  44. Thanks for the shortbread recipe and the chance to win!

    salvatoresmom71(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  45. Only a tiny amount of butter. Lol. Love those cookies!

    Thanks. jsomers421 at g mail dot com

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  46. That recipe looks so easy that I might even be able to make it.
    suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com

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  47. Those look delicious and, like you said, easy. Congratulations on the new release! Thank you so much for the chance to win!
    magicgirl2357@yahoo.com

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  48. Loved shortbread! Thanks for the recipe and I look forward to reading the new book. ndleartnut@aol.com

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  49. Looks like a good and easy recipe! Thanks for a chance to win - can't wait to read this one!! ljbonkoski@yahoo.com

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  50. Wonderful recipe! But add a mystery and that makes it taste even better!!! wrinkles_home@yahoo.com

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  51. The recipe looks good, I wish I had some right now! I would love to win the giveaway, thank you! lclee59(at)centurylink(dot)net

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  52. I'm not really into shortbread but I've bought the Walker's Shortbread before at Target around Christmas. Once I bought some as a Christmas present for a lawyer I worked for. I also gave him tea.

    catbooks72(at)gmail(dot)com

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  53. Melinda DevonshireMay 16, 2018 at 6:42 PM

    I love to bake so I will definitely try these. I also work at a library where I host a cozy mystery book club with a co worker. Would love your book for our club! Melindadevonshire27(at)gmail(dot)com

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