Shortbread: what may make it taste funny?

Question

Our shortbread has a strange 'mouldy' taste, that could almost be described as tasteless.

As far as we are aware we used the correct ingredient proportions, although it only had about 75% of the correct cooking time and there is the possibility that the butter and sugar wasn't creamed properly. Could any of these things make it taste so strange?

Also, what is the 'correct' way to cream butter and sugar? Could inproper technique cause a bad taste?

Thanks in advance for any suggestions: we are distraught that our shortbread was not as tasty as Walkers!

Answer 1

My guess is that the butter you used had gotten old, whether that happened in your refrigerator or the grocery's. I think it's unlikely that it was a problem with creaming the butter and sugar. You do want to cream it thoroughly, in a standing mixer if possible, but the creaming is not as important as it would be in, say, a recipe for sponge cake. For really flaky and tasty shortbread, you don't really want to handle the dough any more than is absolutely necessary. In my experience a food processor is quickest and easiest, although if you're dextrous, it works just fine to use a pastry blender or even a couple of table knives, if the bowl is nice and cold. By the time the dough will just barely hold together in a crumbly ball, it's done, and it only toughens it to blend it any further.

You didn't by any chance accidentally leave out the salt...? I did that once and even though my ingredients and method were all fine, the shortbread didn't have much taste.

Your question was about flavor, not texture, but if you're interested, my recipe includes a small amount of rice flour and it produces a great, delicate, crumbly texture that is nothing like Walker's! Best of luck.

Answer 2

Creaming your butter and sugar improperly is not going to make your shortbread taste funny. However, if your butter is rancid, that WILL change the taste of the shortbread. Personally, I wouldn't eat it.

Answer 3

I personally think it was they type of butter that you used. I love to make shortbread - and I have noticed that different brands of butter change the flavor. Make sure you buy the freshest butter and a better brand (like Land o'Lakes or Cabot) -- if you're in the U.S.

Best wishes!

Answer 4

Creaming butter and sugar is mixing it. Make sure the butter is softened first, and then add the sugar and beat them together until they are "creamy" and well blended. Improper techique will not alter the flavor; maybe just the texture.

Could they have added a flavoring? like vanilla or almond?