bake - August 2014 - 39

The majority of the cost of a decorated cookie is in
the labor. If you're able to control the labor costs,
decorated shortbread cookies can be a high proﬁt
item. Controlling labor costs is one reason we use the
glaze-and-decorate method, instead of the ﬂoodwith-royal-icing method of decorating. We emphasize
cute but simple designs, and charge extra for elaborate custom cookies.
#3: Long Shelf Life
The shelf life of a dense shortbread cookie is longer
than a sugar or short paste cookie. And it's also
longer than a cupcake, pastry, chocolate chip cookie,
lemon bar, or most of our other drop or bar cookies
and pastries.
The cookie will eventually absorb moisture and soften,
but shortbread typically retains ﬂavor and texture for
5-7 days. It can also be frozen, either before or after
it is glazed and decorated. Most of our shortbread
cookies are cut out and baked at night, then frozen
if they cannot be decorated immediately. This allows
us to stock up for major holidays and optimizes our

#5 Adaptability

baking schedule.

Shortbread dough makes a great base for a variety
of other bakery items. We make thumbprints from

#4 Customizable

our shortbread dough. We also use it for the base of

While we always have a large selection of deco-

several layered bar cookies such as lemon squares,

rated shortbread cookies in our cases, we also make

cheesecake squares, dream bars, and caramel nut

custom cookies for a variety of occasions. Cookies are

bars. The dough can also be colored or ﬂavored,

sometimes the best dessert choice for certain events,

adding even more options.

especially outdoor parties. They also make great
favors for birthdays, showers and weddings. Or, to say

It is also our go-to recipe for customers with food

"thank you" to a special teacher, neighbor, or health

sensitivities. Shortbread dough does not contain

care provider.

eggs. Earth Balance margarine can be substituted for
regular margarine, to make it acceptable for those

We collect cookie cutters in many shapes and sizes,

with milk allergies. And, since the gluten is not essen-

but our most popular custom cookie is a simple

tial, gluten free ﬂour can be substituted for the wheat

glazed medallion with a short saying, monogram or

ﬂour as well. About the only item we have never

name piped on top in colors to match the event.

substituted is the reﬁned sugar, which is usually not
acceptable to vegans, or those on a Paleo diet.

We are careful not to infringe on licensed, trademarked
or copyrighted content without the direct written

We've been making shortbread cookies since we

permission of the owners. This includes practically all

opened in 2006. They have been a great part of our

logos and characters from television, sports, academia,

offerings and we recommend them to other bakeries.

and the corporate world. We do have permission to

Here's the formula we use for a 60 quart mixer: 15 lb

reproduce the indicia of the University of Alabama, and

cold margarine, 7 lb 8 oz granulated sugar and 45

often get permission to reproduce the logos of local

lb all-purpose ﬂour. Makes about 50 dozen 3x4 inch

companies to make gifts for their clients.

cookies.
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bake - August 2014

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