lemon basil shortbread cookies

i don't mean to be mad repetitive but those last shortbread cookies i made were so damn easy, i had to make them again. this time i used lemon and fresh basil instead of earl grey. the recipe i got was a bit different than the first one, but i baked it the same way. pressing down the dough into a pan and baking it is so much easier than cookie cutting it. it cuts the time down significantly. pero that also caused me to forget i was baking cookies after i threw the pan in the oven, so all the edges were super crispy. so don't do that. we enjoyed these cookies w tea and the movie ed wood after i had left the dentist and had botox stroke victim face. im pretty sure i drooled all over gillians couch.

Lemon Basil Shortbread

1 large egg, at room temperature

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 cups all-purpose flour

3/4 cup powdered sugar

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1 or 2 T. lemon peel (to taste)

2 T. basil flowers or 1 ½ T. fresh basil leaves chopped

10 tablespoons unsalted butter (1 1/4 sticks), cold and cut into small pieces

To begin to make the shortbread, in a small bowl beat together egg and vanilla extract until yolk is broken up and evenly combined; set aside.

Combine flour, sugar, salt, and baking powder in the bowl of a stand mixer. Add butter and mix until mixture looks like sand. Add egg mixture and mix just until dough comes together. Add lemon zest and basil.

 

*Form into a flat, rectangular disk, wrap in plastic, and chill at least 1 hour.

Heat oven to 375°F. Place dough on a 14-inch piece of parchment paper, lightly flour, and roll into a 13-by-8-inch oval, about 1/4 inch thick. Transfer parchment paper with dough to a baking sheet, cover in plastic wrap, and refrigerate again for 15 minutes. Cut each cookie into a small circle using either a cookie cutter or the rim of a glass.* ***or press down into greased 13X9 inch baking dish. that'll save a ton of time but u may have to bake longer.

Place on a baking sheet and cook until golden brown, about 8 minutes. Remove to a wire rack and let coo