Orange-Date-Nut Shortbread

 Adapted from Southern Living Cookies

Ingredients:
8 oz pitted dates, Zest of one orange, Juice of one orange, 1 cup butter, softened,  1 1/2 cups sugar, 1 large egg, 1 teaspoon vanilla, 2 1/2 cups flour, 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1 1/2 cups pecans, toasted and finely chopped


Directions:
Dough needs to chill before baking; preheat oven to 350 degrees when ready to bake. Butter and line a 9x5 loaf pan with parchment paper so that the parchment extends over the long side of the pan; set aside.

 In a food processor, combine the dates, orange zest, and orange juice. Process until dates are finely chopped. In a large bowl, cream butter and vanilla together until butter is creamy.  Add sugar and egg, beating until fully mixed.

In a small bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. Add flour to butter mixture, beating until well-combined. Mix in pecans.

Divide dough into 3 portions. Press one portion into the loaf pan. Beat date mixture into another portion of the dough, and press onto the pecan mixture in the loaf pan. Press remaining pecan portion onto the date portion. Cover pan and chill for at least 2 hours.

Prepare baking pans by lining with parchment paper and preheating oven to 350 degrees. Once chilled, remove layered dough from loaf pan. Cut dough, lengthwise, into 4 pieces. Cut each piece into 1/4" slices. Place pieces onto prepared baking pan, about 2" apart. Bake at 350 degrees for 9-10 minutes. Allow to cool for 5 minutes before moving onto a rack.

Recipe Source: http://en.petitchef.com/recipes/orange-date-nut-shortbread-cookies-fid-1189815