The Vibrant Spice To Give Shortbread Cookies A Tart Bite - Tasting Table

As a spice, sumac works great in savory dishes, especially if they're starch-based. But although sumac pairs well with savory fare, it works just as well in desserts. So, if you're interested in baking with sumac, there's no better place to start than shortbread cookies. And, if you're not interested in baking with sumac, maybe you should be.

Here's why: Sumac comes ground and tart — and functions similarly to citrus when used in cookie recipes. In addition, it has a sour, acidic taste that is not unlike that of a lemon, so it's versatile and delicious.Unlike lemon, however, sumac adds a trademark tartness in the form of a spice, rather than a liquid. It is therefore all the easier to use sumac in baking, because it doesn't throw off a recipe's liquid ratios. 

To bake with sumac, simply incorporate a few tablespoons into your shortbread recipe. And, for extra flavor, add a final sprinkle of sumac to the top of your cookies.