Wednesday, November 20, 2013

The BEST Shortbread cookies


unsure of original recipe source


When I was growing up, I loved to help my mom bake. Every year in late November she would start her Christmas baking. There were many items that made the list every year, but 2 that I remember most. One, my favorite, peanut butter balls - and second, shortbread.  She made the same recipe that her mom had always made.  As a kid, I didn't like it - AT ALL. Although every year I would try them again, and eventually I acquired a taste for them.  Now, I love them - and this recipe is the only one that I truly love.

1 lb butter, softened
1 cup icing sugar
4 cups flour
red and green glace cherries (optional)


Whip the softened butter (see note below)
add in the icing sugar and then flour; mix until combined.

Form a ball with the dough, wrap in plastic wrap and chill for approx 1 hour.

Preheat oven to 350

Roll out dough (1/4 ")onto well floured surface (make sure rolling pin is well floured also)

Cut with a shot glass (you could use shaped cutters, but my families tradition is shot glass) and garnish with glace cherry pieces

Place on ungreased cookie sheet and bake for approx 10 minutes (bottoms should JUST be starting to turn golden)

Remove to cooling rack immediately; allow to cool completely and then store in air tight container

(the secret to this recipe is to whip the butter WELL - I put the butter in my stand mixer and let it whip for about 5 minutes on speed 6)



stand mixer

16 comments:

  1. Yum! I love shortbread cookies but I've never attempted to make my own. Maybe I'll have to try this year!

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  2. The recipe sounds delicious! I too did not enjoy shortbread when I was younger, but it is growing on me as an adult.

    Jenna
    www.snymed.blogspot.ca

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  3. Thanks for sharing this recipe! I've been looking for a great shortbread recipe!

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  4. Wow!! Shortbread! Thanks for sharing this recipe with us. I am going to have to try this one for the holidays!

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  5. Oh I want a mixer like yours! I would love that for baking. Shortbread is one of my favorite Christmas treats.

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  6. Love shortbread! Would love to see photos of the finished product!

    Kerrie
    www.familyfoodandtravel.com

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  7. I'm not a big fan of shortbread cookies but my mother loves them. Perhaps I'll grow into them too.

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  8. I think I will add this to my annual Christmas cookie baking.

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  9. Thank for this shortbread recipe that looks fairly easy! Mine has never turned out well but I'm going to try this recipe.

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  10. Shortbreads are my favorite christmas cookie. My boys love adding candy sprinkles or gumdrops to theirs. thanks for sharing
    tammykd at live dot com

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  11. I think we might need to bake these this weekend :)

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  12. This sounds like a quite and easy recipe for Shortbreak cookies. I think I will have to try them out this year

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  13. This is how you make shortbread cookies! I never knew. They sound so delicious and very easy to make. I will have to make these for my family. Thanks for this awesome recipe.

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  14. I will try this recipe!
    I love Shortbread cookies but still haven't found a recipe I like!

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  15. These sound great, my grandmother made a good shortbread as well, and she always said to make good shortbread you have to use a wooden spoon, I have no idea why, but that is what she used and she stood her ground on that rule, hmmm

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  16. Yum! Love shortbread cookies, especially when they melt in your mouth!

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