Scottish Grasmere Shortbread

Ingredients

Ingredients for the shortbread

• 2 cups sifted all-purpose flour
• 6 tablespoons sugar
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch
• 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
• 3/4 cup butter
• 1/2 cup finely chopped crystallized ginger

Ingredients for the ginger filling

• 1/4 cup butter
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 cups confectioners' sugar
• 1 tablespoon milk
• 2 tablespoons grated crystallized ginger

Directions

1. 1

   Sift flour, sugar, cornstarch, and ground ginger into a bowl.

2. 2

   Cut in butter until mixture becomes a soft dough (requires working beyond the stage when particles are the size of rice kernals).

3. 3

   Mix in crystallized ginger. Shape dough into a ball. Knead lightly with fingertips until mixture holds together. Roll into tubular shape and place in cookie press or just slice into 1/8 inch slices. Place on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 12 minures. Cool. Spread ginger filling over the bottom of half the cookies. Cover with remaining cookies.

4. 4

   Ginger Filling; Cream 1/4 C butter and 1 t vanilla extract. Add 2 C confectioner's sugar gradually, beating until fluffy. Stir in 2 T grated crystallized ginger.