Christmas Shortbread Or Christmas Cookies

Shortbread? Cookies?

Depending on where you are in the world, you will either call these delicious golden morsels "shortbread" or "cookies".

Whatever you choose to call them, they still taste wonderful.

They are perfect for:

• a fantastic gift to give to your family and friends,
• or a fun activity for kids as they cut out the shapes, decorate them, and then eat them!
• great to have on hand to offer visitors with a cup of tea or coffee.

Preheat your oven to 160°C (325°F).

Line two baking sheets with baking paper.

Cream the butter until it is creamy and pale. Gradually add the sugar, beating well. The mixture should become light and fluffy.

Add the flour in one go and use clean hands to mix and then knead into a dough. Once it has all come together roll the dough in plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator for 20 minutes. Don’t rush this step; the chilling time makes all the difference.

Halve the mixture, put half back into the fridge until you need it. With the other half, roll it out on a clean surface (I usually use baking paper) to 7mm.

Use your favorite cookie cutters to cut out the shapes you want. If I’m making gifts for adults I usually use a star, Christmas tree or heart shape, and for kids I use everything else.

Don't forget to use the other half of the dough keeping cool in the fridge!

Arrange the cut dough onto the prepared baking sheets. If you are planning on hanging them on the Christmas tree, then use a skewer to pierce the cookie now.

Bake for 10 to 15 minutes. The shortbread should be just golden around the edges.

Let them sit on the trays for 5 minutes, then slide them onto wire racks to cool.

Once they are cool you can decorate them, or dust them in icing (confectioners) sugar, or just eat them!

Icing

½ cup icing sugar, sifted

1 to 2 tablespoons hot water

food coloring

vanilla essence, strawberry flavor, etc

hundreds and thousands, silver cachous, sugar shapes, etc

Beat the water and icing sugar together until smooth. The mixture should be runny but still fairly thick. Add coloring and flavoring as desired.