Shortbread Christmas Cookies

These delicious little cookies are reminiscent of a classic shortbread with their buttery flavor and light crispy texture. Decorate them for the season and you’ll have a beautiful and delicious cookie for your holiday celebrations. I like to make these to have on hand when company stops in, but they’re also a hit for a cookie exchange or Christmas potluck. During the Christmas season I also make dozens of cookies for giving as gifts. Place a few cookies in a cellophane bag and tie with a pretty ribbon; you’ll have any instant gift that everyone will love.

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Shortbread Christmas Cookies

These cookies have a light texture with a yummy buttery flavor. You can decorate them with colored maraschino cherries, Christmas sprinkles, or decorating sugar to give your holiday cookie tray a wonderfully festive look. These stunning cookies are as delicious as they are beautiful.

Servings

Dozen

Ingredients

• 1 cup butter, softened
• 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1-1/2 cups flour
• 2 Tbsp corn starch
• red and green maraschino cherries, halved
• Christmas nonpareils

Servings Dozen Ingredients 1 cup butter, softened 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar 2 tsp vanilla extract 1-1/2 cups flour 2 Tbsp corn starch red and green maraschino cherries, halved Christmas nonpareils

Instructions

1. In a medium bowl, sift together the flour and corn starch; set aside.
2. In a large bowl of an electric mixer add the softened butter; beat for 5 minutes until light and fluffy. Add the confectioners' sugar and beat until well combined. Beat in the vanilla extract. Add 1/3 of the flour mixture and beat until well combined; repeat with half of the remaining flour mixture, again beat until combined. Add the last of the flour mixture and beat for 10 minutes.
3. With lightly floured hands, roll dough into 1-inch balls and place on ungreased cookie sheet about 2" apart. With a lightly floured fork, press cookie tops down just enough to barely flatten the top. Place a maraschino cherry half on top of each cookie or decorate with Christmas nonpareils.
4. Bake for 15 to 17 minutes or until the bottoms of the cookies are lightly browned. Remove from oven. Let cookies cool on cookie sheet for 5 minutes; transfer cookies on to wire rack to cool.

Recipe Notes

Don't skimp on the amount of time recommended for beating this cookie dough. It's important that the dough is light and fluffy in order to get the wonderful texture that makes these cookies so delicious.