Traditional Shortbread

Knowing that the holidays are really just right around the corner, I purchased a couple new kinds of tea from Harney and Sons; Vanilla Comoro and English Breakfast. It's always nice to have something on hand for when company pops in for a visit. And if there's anything makes a cup of tea more delightful, it's a buttery, homemade cookie.

When the tea arrived in the mail, it was clear that the best thing to do was to make a batch of cookies to enjoy a cup with. I've been collecting cookie recipes to test for an annual cookie exchange I host each year and I was eager to bake something instead of just drooling over delcious photos.

Not wanting anything too complicated, I decided to make a classic butter shortbread. Basically butter, flour and sugar. How much more simple could it get?

I began by sifting one cup of powdered sugar.

I then creamed the powdered sugar with one cup of soft unsalted butter in my mixer with the paddle attachement. After about 10 minutes, I added a teaspoon of vanilla.

Next I sifted 2 cups of flour with a pinch of salt and a teaspoon of baking powder.

I then added the flour mixture to the creamed butter and sugar, and continued to mix it until it was well combined.

Once the dough started forming a ball in the mixing bowl, I emptied it out onto a sheet of parchment paper and made a ball.

Using the parchment paper, I rolled the ball out into a log shape. The parchment helps make a smooth, even log.

I then sliced the log into even slices of dough, roughly 1/2 inch thick.

I arranged them on a lined baking sheet and sprinkled them with raw sugar for added crunch and sweetness. I baked them in a 350 degree oven for about 15 minutes. Now, the recipe only called for 10 minutes, and warned not to over cook them. I prefer my shortbread a little drier and more crumbly however so next time I might leave them in for a few minutes longer. Just don't let them brown too much.

While they were baking, I lined a takeout box with parchment and took out some Christmas gift tags I had been working on the day before.

A little ribbon and twine made a perfect little package. I sent them to my Papa, who's favourite cookie is shortbread.

And then I enjoyed one with a cup of tea.

The original recipe was found here, I just altered it slighty to my personal taste.

BAKING DAY ~ Chocolate Dipped Shortbread Logs

Line a 1 pound candy box with tissue. Layer logs between sheets of tissue to fill box.

Earlier this week, I was invited to a cookie exchange. I've never been to one before so I was curious to see how one went. Each guest had to bring 1/2 dozen cookies (normally it's a full dozen but that could get excessive with a few girls), in a pretty package for each girl attending. As well, the recipe for the cookie you chose to make had to be included in the package. I decided to make French Macarons with Chocolate Butter Cream Filling. They turned out well enough, but I got so many amazing cookies in return. There were these gooey chocolate cookies, classic peanut butter chocolate chip cookies, "reindeer droppings" brownies, and my favourite, chocolate dipped shortbread logs. They were amazing. They literally just crumbled apart.

The best part however, was finding out how ridiculously easy they were to make! I gave them a try this morning and they turned out beautifully.

Enjoy!

- Chocolate Dipped Shortbread Logs -

1 cup of butter

1/2 cup of icing sugar

1 tsp. vanilla extract

2 cups of flour

1 1/2 cups of good chocolate chips

2 tsp. shortening

Cream butter and sugar together in a medium bowl. Add vanilla. Slowly add flour on low. Once incorporated, roll out logs about 1/2" wide by 2" long. Bake at 350 degrees in preheated oven on a non-greased baking sheet for 10 minutes. Cool completely. Melt chocolate and shortening. Dip cooled cookie tops or drizzle chocolate on top. Sprinkle with chopped nuts like walnuts or pecans, or for an extra crunch, try adding a few Heath toffee bits. Let set completely before packaging. Makes about 20 cookies.

Now, I always go on about how things will look all packaged up pretty. Well, these I happened to actually package this evening. I wanted a pretty little box of Christmas baking to send to our neighbors.

Seal tissue with a pretty label.

Tie with twine and add a pretty little tag and a sprig or greens or rosemary in this case.