Pink Peppercorn Shortbread is a rich crumbly buttery shortbread delicately flavoured with the spicy floral notes of pink peppercorn and so easy to make!

Shortbread is one of my favourite biscuits to bake, especially when I make them every Christmas as gifts. Although I love the buttery taste of shortbread, I do like to add a flavour every now and again.

This year I had some pink peppercorns leftover from a sauce I made where the I felt the more delicate flavour of the ‘pink pepper’ was preferable to the more usual black pepper.
Bearing in mind the flavour of the pink peppercorns, I thought they would bring a subtle spicy twist to a shortbread – mild but still delivering a gentle peppery kick. Despite appearing very much like peppercorns, these little pink beauties aren’t actually a pepper at all but are the dried berries of the Brazillian Pepper Tree. Don’t they look so pretty ?

These Pink Peppercorn Shortbread Hearts are delicious on their own but I’m going to serve them with a creamy lemon posset for a Valentine’s Day dessert, I reckon OH will love it. I’ll report back and let you know how it goes. Have you got any culinary plans for Valentine’s Day this year ?

- 225 g softened butter
- 110 g caster sugar plus extra for sprinkling
- 225 g plain flour
- 110 g cornflour
- A pinch of sea salt
- ¾ teaspoon lightly crushed pink peppercorns plus extra for garnish
Stand Mixer:
- Add butter and sugar to the bowl and beat until creamed, which should take between one and two minutes depending on how soft your butter is and your mixer speed; number 4 to number 6 speed.
- Sift flour and cornflour into a separate bowl and then add half to your creamed butter and sugar. Start your mixer on slow (number 2 speed) to prevent the flour flying out of the bowl - mix for a few seconds. Add the remainder of the flour mix and crushed pink peppercorns, combine until it all comes together around the beater - about 1 minute.
By hand:
- Cream the butter and sugar.
- Add the flour and cornflour in 3 or 4 batches adding the crushed pink peppercorns with the last batch, mix until the dough comes together. Don't overwork it.
Shape & bake your shortbread:
- Line a large baking tray with baking parchment and preheat your oven to 300°F / 150°C / Gas Mark 2
- Place your dough onto a floured work surface. Roll out the dough to just less than 6 mm (¼ inch) thick. Cut the dough using a shaped cutter and then place your shortbread hearts on a baking tray.
- Bake in the oven until pale golden in colour. Depending on the size of your cutter, your Pink Peppercorn Shortbread Hearts will probably take about 15 to 20 minutes to bake.
- If the shortbread begins to turn brown before it is cooked, turn your temperature down by 10 ℃
- Remove from the oven and leave to cool on a wire rack before sprinkling with caster sugar and crushed pink peppercorns.
Pin for later
I’m entering Pink Peppercorn Shortbread Hearts to a few challenges in February:
- Charlotte’s Food Year Link Up Challenge over at Charlotte’s Lively Kitchen.
- Elizabeth’s No Waste Food Challenge over at Elizabeth’s Kitchen Diary.
- Credit Crunch Munch created by Camilla from Fab Food 4 All & Helen over at Fuss Free Flavours & hosted this month by Helen.
- Treat Petite created by Stuart over at Cakeyboi and Kat at The Baking Explorer, hosted this month by Lisa over at United Cakedom.
I’m linking Pink Peppercorn Shortbread Hearts to:
Fiesta Fridays co hosted this week by Mila at Milk and Bun and Hilda at Along The Grapevine
Derek | Dad With A Pan
Sunday 5th of February 2017
The pink peppercorns are perfect for the savory lovers out there! I'd make this if m wife was into that type of thing. But she's all sweet all the time! I'm the opposite, so these will be just for me!
Lynn | The Road to Honey
Sunday 5th of February 2017
Shortbread cookies are truly the most buttery, decadent cookie on the planet. I just love them and your twist to include the pink peppercorns.. .what a great idea. I just adore that little pop of pink. Great for Valentines Day. . .but how cute would they be for baby showers too?
Sarah
Saturday 4th of February 2017
Love the use of pink peppercorns in this! I've had them a lot in cocktails but never cookies!
Ticker Eats The World
Saturday 4th of February 2017
Such beautifully presented and delicious looking shortbread. Thanks for the recipe and the idea of how to make them look all the more cute and charming. The addition of pink peppercorns is so cool and yes bring about a different flavour profile compared to black pepper.
Fred
Friday 3rd of February 2017
I tried making shortbread cookies and it didn't turn out too well... However, with the creativity with which you make these pink peppercorn shortbread is out of this world and makes me wanna make some. Thanks for sharing Sarah, always looking forward to what you'll make next :).