Dried Cranberry Shortbread Cookies
These dried cranberry shortbread cookies are the perfect introduction for a twelve days of Christmas cookies celebration! So delicate, buttery, and melts in your mouth with every bite! I’ve been a fan of shortbread cookies since I was a kid. My grandmother would often buy Royal Dansk shortbread cookies, you know the one in the blue tin that shows up on store shelves around November and beckon and call your name at every turn? These will take you there. The subtle flavor of dried cranberries makes these cookies even tastier and even add some color to celebrate this joyous season.
Dried Cranberry Shortbread Cookies
Ingredients
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
½ cup confectioners’ sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon kosher salt
¼ cup finely chopped dried cranberries
Prepare
1. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat butter and confectioners’ sugar at medium speed until creamy, 3 to 4 minutes, stopping to scrape sides of bowl. Beat in vanilla.
2. In a medium bowl, sift together flour and salt. With mixer on low speed, gradually add flour mixture to butter mixture, beating until combined. Fold in cranberries. Turn out dough, and shape into a disk (batter may be sticky). Wrap in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
3. Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C). Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
4. On a lightly floured surface, roll dough to ¼-inch thickness. Using a 1½-inch round cutter dipped in flour, cut dough, and place on prepared pans. Refrigerate for 15 minutes.
5. Bake until lightly browned, 10 to 15 minutes. Let cool on pans for 3 minutes. Remove from pans, and let cool completely on wire racks. Makes about 30. Store in an airtight container for up to 1 week.
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- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- ½ cup confectioners’ sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ cup finely chopped dried cranberries
- In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat butter and confectioners’ sugar at medium speed until creamy, 3 to 4 minutes, stopping to scrape sides of bowl. Beat in vanilla.
- In a medium bowl, sift together flour and salt. With mixer on low speed, gradually add flour mixture to butter mixture, beating until combined. Fold in cranberries. Turn out dough, and shape into a disk (batter may be sticky). Wrap in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C). Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
- On a lightly floured surface, roll dough to ¼-inch thickness. Using a 1½-inch round cutter dipped in flour, cut dough, and place on prepared pans. Refrigerate for 15 minutes.
- Bake until lightly browned, 10 to 15 minutes. Let cool on pans for 3 minutes. Remove from pans, and let cool completely on wire racks. Store in an airtight container for up to 1 week
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