Asiago Lemon Thyme Shortbread

Asiago Lemon Thyme Shortbread is a buttery, savory shortbread cracker perfect for the cocktail hour! Add them to a cheese platter for a luxury touch.

savory shortbread enriched with asiago cheese and lemon thyme

Shortbread is such an elemental food; the rubbing together of flour and butter and sugar produces the most satisfying crumbly buttery texture when it’s baked.

Usually I get the urge to make shortbread during the colder months, and shortbread cookies are a holiday gift giving staple in our house. But this savory Asiago Lemon Thyme Shortbread calls for a glass of wine on the deck. Perfect for entertaining. They’d be a great addition to a cheese board. And so much more satisfying than a cracker.

shortbread crackers are a make ahead friendly appetizer

The great thing about shortbread is you can make it ahead and keep the dough in the fridge or freezer to slice and bake when you need it. Unexpected guests won’t be a problem when you’ve got a log of this dough on hand.

what you’ll need

• butter
• flour
• aged cheese
• fresh herbs
• lemon
• salt and pepper

1. quickly process the shortbread dough in a food processor

I like to make shortbread in my food processor, it’s quick and easy. Everything goes in at once, and all you do is pulse the machine until the dough comes together. The dough will be crumbly, it doesn’t have to be in one lump, but it takes a little experience to recognize this stage. I like to finish bringing it together with my hands.

2. form your dough into a log

Turn the dough out onto a board and form it into a 7-8 inch log, just like slice and bake cookies.

3. wrap your dough tightly in plastic

After wrapping, put the the dough in the fridge and chill for a few hours or longer. You can freeze the dough at this point, too.

4. slice and bake!

When you are ready to bake, just slice the dough with a sharp knife to about 1/4 to 3/8 of an inch. Arrange the slices on a parchment paper lined baking sheet and bake for about 10 minutes. Your kitchen will smell of lemon, cheese and thyme.

important tip for baking shortbread

• Don’t wait for shortbread to turn brown in the oven, it should only be very lightly golden around the edges. If you wait for it to brown, it will be over cooked and crunchy. In general shortbread is still fairly pale when fully cooked.

so many shortbread recipes, so little time!

• Savory Herb Shortbread (and Party Printables!)
• Lemon Shortbread
• How to Make Pansy Topped Shortbread Cookies
• Sparkly Strawberry Shortbread Cookies
• Butter Pecan Shortbread
• Cranberry Orange Shortbread Cookies

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3.53 from 120 votes

Asiago Lemon Thyme Shortbread

Asiago Lemon Thyme Shortbread is a buttery, savory shortbread cracker perfect for the cocktail hour!  Add them to a cheese platter for a luxury touch.

Course Appetizer

Cuisine American

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 10 minutes

Total Time 25 minutes

Yield 16 crackers

Calories 108kcal

Author Sue Moran

Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 1 cup finely shredded Asiago cheese
• zest of 1 lemon
• 2 Tbsp thyme leaves
• 1 1/4 cups flour
• 1/2 tsp salt
• lots of fresh cracked black pepper

US Customary – Metric

Instructions

• set oven to 350F
• Put all of the ingredients into the bowl of a food processor fitted with the metal blade and pulse, about 30 times, until the dough comes together.
• Remove from the processor and bring the dough into a lump, using your hands. Work it slightly if it is still crumbly.
• Form it into a smooth 7-8 inch log. Wrap in plastic wrap, smoothing it out as you wrap, and twist the ends securely.
• Refrigerate until well chilled, at least a few hours, or overnight. I like to cradle the log of dough on a thick dish towel so it remains round.
• Slice into 1/4 – 3/8 inch thick slices and bake on a silpat or parchment lined baking sheet for about 10 minutes. The shortbreads will still be quite pale.
• Let cool for a few minutes on the pan, and then on a rack

Cook’s notes

 

*recipe adapted from Ina Garten

Nutrition

Calories: 108kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 21mg | Sodium: 118mg | Potassium: 23mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 266IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 42mg | Iron: 1mg

The nutritional information for recipes on this site is provided as a courtesy and although theviewfromgreatisland.com tries to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures are only estimates.