### Bug description

Using [Quarto variables](https://quarto.org/docs/authoring/variables.html) makes a lot of sense when dealing with customisations. Variables can include markdown, but in our experience it's limited to hyperlinks and some basic formatting. Titles are not taken into account, code blocks are rendered as lines of verbatim code, bullet points are rendered as a long list of options.

I generated a sample project with different types of markdown content to be included in the following repo: <https://github.com/tverbeiren/markdown_variables>. Further info is available in the `index.qmd` and the `README.md` that is generated from it.

A number of attempts have been made already with different YAML multiline options, escaping of characters, adding extra newlines. Without success.

This has been tested with Quarto v1.3.310 on Mac Ventura.

### Checklist

- [X] Please include a minimal, fully reproducible example in a single .qmd file? Please provide the whole file rather than the snippet you believe is causing the issue.
- [X] Please [format your issue](https://quarto.org/bug-reports.html#formatting-make-githubs-markdown-work-for-us) so it is easier for us to read the bug report.
- [X] Please document the operating system you're running. If on Linux, please provide the specific distribution.
dragonstyle
2023-04-06T08:38:14Z
tverbeiren
enhancement triaged-to
v1.4
open
Shortcode handlers should respond to context; inline vs block vs code
https://github.com/quarto-dev/quarto-cli/issues/5110