Shortbread Cookies

Shortbread cookies are a ubiquitous part of the Christmas cookie platter. A traditional, classic Christmas cookie recipe that is one of the simplest and best cookie I made this Christmas. I adapted this recipe from Joy of Baking website. The shortbread cookies were not too sweet, had a buttery aftertaste and absolutely melt in the mouth.

For soft cookies, roll them slightly thicker. For a crisp cookie, roll them thin and lower the baking temperature. Well, there are endless possibilities/flavors you can work around the basic shortbread cookie. You can flavor the shortbread cookies with lemon zest, vanilla, saffron, cardamom, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves or herbs like rosemary. Nehal loves shortbread cookies that are dunked in chocolate and I like them plain with my evening cup of masala chai.

Shortbread Cookies Recipe

Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 10 min
Yield: 20
Main Ingredients: butter flour

Ingredients

All purpose flour : 1 1/2 cups (260 gms maida)
Cornflour : 1/2 cup
Salt : 1/4 tsp
Butter : 1 cup/226 gms/2 sticks (unsalted butter and at room temperature)
Powdered sugar : 1/2 cup (60 gms)
Vanilla extract : 1 tsp
For Chocolate Dipped Short breads
Semi sweet chocolate : 6 ounces/180 gms/3/4 cup (finely chopped)

Method

Preheat oven at 350 degrees F (177 degrees C) with the rack in the middle of the oven. Grease and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
In a bowl mix the flour and cornflour with salt and keep aside.
Cream the butter until smooth and creamy. Add the sugar and beat until smooth, approx 2 mts. Add vanilla extract and mix. Add the flour to the butter mixture and mix to form a soft dough.
Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and chill the dough for an hour or until firm on touch.
On a lightly floured surface roll out the dough into 1/4 inch thick circle. Using a lightly floured cookie cutter of your choice shape the dough. Place the shaped out dough on the prepared baking sheet and place in the refrigerator for 10-15 mts so that it will firm up the dough and the cookies will maintain their shape when baked.
Bake for 8-10 minutes or until cookies are very lightly browned. Cool on a wire rack.

Tips

You can coat the cookies with tempered chocolate. Just melt chocolate over double boiler and dip the corners of the cookies in the melted chocolate and place on parchment paper. Refrigerate for a few minutes and serve.

Source: http://www.sailusfood.com/2011/12/24/shortbread-cookies-eggless/

Eggless Almond and Chocolate filled Butter Cookies

The cookies might not be very visually appealing with Plain Jane kinda of looks. One bite into the cookie and you will realize that its the most palate pleasing sweet treat. Makes for a perfect festive give away Christmas cookie!

Eggless Almond and Chocolate filled Butter Cookies Recipe

Preparation: 20 mts, Baking: 25-30 mts
.
Ingredients:

2 cups maida/flour
1 cup butter
3 tbsps sugar
1/2 tsp cinnamon pwd
1/2 tsp vanilla essence
2-3 tbsps low fat milk
1/4 tsp salt
few tbsps powdered sugar
For almond chocolate filling:
1/2 cup ground almonds
1/3 cup sugar
3 tbsps mini chocolate chips
1/2 tsp vanilla essence

Method

1 Mix all the ingredients required for filling in a bowl and keep aside.
2 In a bowl, combine flour, salt, vanilla essence, sugar, butter and combine. Add 2-3 tbsps milk and make a smooth soft dough.
3 Prepare small balls as shown in the picture above. Flatten the ball using your fingers and place a tbsp of filling in the center and enclose it. Roll into a smooth round ball.
4 Prepare with rest of the dough and place on baking sheet about an inch apart. Lightly flatten the balls.
5 Bake in a pre-heated oven at 180 C for about 28-30 mts till the edges are slightly toasted or till done. While the cookies are warm, dust them with powdered sugar. Its optional though. In case you are not dusting with powdered sugar, add another 2 tbsps of sugar to the dough at the time of mixing the dough ingredients.
6 Cool on a wire rack. Repeat with remaining dough. Store in airtight container. They store up to a week.

Source: http://www.sailusfood.com/2010/12/18/eggless-almond-and-chocolate-filled-butter-cookies/