• Menu
  • Skip to left header navigation
  • Skip to right header navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Before Header

  • twitter
  • facebook
  • pinterest
  • instagram
  • mail

Kate Battistelli

Author | Speaker | Mentor

  • Home
  • About
  • Books
    • The God Dare
    • Growing Great Kids
  • Podcasts
  • Blog
    • Faith
    • Recipe Index
  • Shop
  • Speaking
  • Contact
  • Home
  • About
  • Books
    • The God Dare
    • Growing Great Kids
  • Podcasts
  • Blog
    • Faith
    • Recipe Index
  • Shop
  • Speaking
  • Contact

Shortbread for Christmas

Shortbread for Christmas

Holiday cookie magazines intimidate me. I look at all those perfectly decorated cookies and get overwhelmed. Oh, I still buy them  and read the recipes. But then I realize how many of my tried and true standby’s are just as good and maybe even better. Not fancy-dancy but homey and full of flavor and happy memories.

During the holidays my heart turns to Shortbread. Simple, only 5 ingredients, sweet, with endless variations and my dad’s favorite. His family came over from Scotland and Shortbread was always his go-to  cookie.  I think of him when I bake them and I like to think he would enjoy some of the variations I make. Simplicity is good and Shortbread is about as simple as you can get.

This is a wonderful recipe from Ina Garten’s The Barefoot Contessa Cookbook. I especially love how well these cookies hold up. They aren’t too delicate and they ship well if you are sending cookies as a special gift to someone. Whenever I make them, I get raves! Make sure you try some variations, the candied ginger are my favorite!

By the way, I really do love and value your comments. Please feel free to leave one for me if you like what you see!  I also love to hear about how a recipe turned out for you.  So, comment away!

Shortbread Cookies

Makes about 24 hearts or whatever shape you’d like

  • 3/4 pound unsalted butter at room temperature
  • 1 cup granulated sugar plus extra for sprinkling
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 3 1/2 cups all purpose flour
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt 

Preheat your oven to 350

  1. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, mix together the butter and 1 cup of sugar until they are just combined.
  2. Add the vanilla.
  3. In a medium bowl, sift together the flour and salt and add them to the butter and sugar mixture.
  4. Mix on low speed until the dough starts to come together.
  5. Dump onto a flour-dusted surface and shape into a flat disc.
  6. Wrap in plastic and chill for 30 minutes.
  7. Roll the dough 1/2 inch thick and cut with a 3 inch cookie cutter.  I use a heart shaped one.
  8. Place the hearts on an ungreased baking sheet and sprinkle with sugar.
  9. Bake for 20-25 minutes until the edges begin to brown.
  10. Allow to cool to room temperature.

Variation

Linzer cookies

  • One batch shortbread dough
  • Good raspberry jam or preserves

When you are cutting out your cookies, let’s say you are using a round cookie cutter, cut out half of the cookies whole and for the other half, cut a shape out of the middle.  It can be a smaller circle or a little star or heart or whatever you’d like.

Now, spread the raspberry preserves on the flat side of the solid cookie.  Dust the top of the cut-out cookies with confectioners sugar and press the flat sides together making a cookie sandwich with the raspberry preserves in the center and the confectioners sugar on top.

Shortbread for Christmas

Pecan Shortbread cookies.

Pecan Shortbread

  • To the butter and sugar in the above recipe, add the vanilla and also 1 teaspoon of pure almond extract.
  • Sift together the flour and salt and add them to the butter and sugar mixture.
  • Add 1 1/2 cups pecans, diced small, and continue with the recipe.
  • Roll out and cut into whatever shapes you like.
  • Bake at 350 for 20 to 25 minutes until edges begin to brown.

Shortbread for Christmas

Ginger Shortbread cookies.

Ginger Shortbread

  • To the basic shortbread recipe, add 3/4 cup of finely chopped Crystallized Ginger.
  • Roll out and bake.

Chocolate dipped Shortbread

  • Melt a cup of chocolate chips in the microwave or in a double boiler.
  • Dip half of your shortbread hearts in the chocolate.  Let the excess drip off.
  • Place hearts on a sheet of wax paper and let them dry.
  • Store in an airtight container with sheets of waxed paper between the layers.

Kate’s Tips

  • Be creative!  Add spices (cinnamon or curry would be nice), different nuts, maybe dried cranberries chopped up fine.
  • Dip half of each shortbread in white chocolate and drizzle with dark.
  • Chill the cut out cookies for 10 minutes before you bake them for a sharper edge.
  • Shortbread can be cut into shapes and refrigerated for up to a week and then baked the day you want to serve them.
  • For extra flavor, roast your pecans on a baking sheet at 350 for 8 minutes before chopping them up.
  • Happy baking!

Shortbread for Christmas

 

 

Category: Baking, Desserts, Special Occasions/HolidaysTag: chocolate dipped shortbread, christmas cookies, Christmas Desserts, crystallized ginger, Ginger shortbread, Holiday baking, holiday cookies, pecan shortbread, raspberry jam, Scottish Shortbread, The Barefoot Contessa

Previous Post: «Homemade Meatballs Italian Meatballs and Spaghetti Sauce
Next Post: Homemade Cinnamon Rolls Homemade Cinnamon Rolls»

Reader Interactions

Trackbacks

  1. Linzer Cookies–Gluten Free! says:
    February 13, 2015 at 4:07 am

    […] snowy white powdered sugar. Hearts are everywhere and love is in the air Normally, I would use my shortbread recipe for these but because it’s not a gluten free recipe, I’ve come up with an […]

Footer

Subscribe to receive updates and goodies from Kate!

When you join me as an INSIDER here at katebattistelli.com, the first goodie I'll send you is a FREE 3-Chapter PREVIEW of my newest book THE GOD DARE, including the introduction, and foreword by my daughter, GRAMMY Award-Winning Recording Artist Francesca Battistelli. More INSIDER surprises to come!

Site Footer

New post up at @momtomompodcast!. So much about Go New post up at @momtomompodcast!. So much about God and His Word is still a mystery, even to the greatest theological minds down through the ages. Faith–simple, childlike #faith is what holds the whole thing up. But, do we just stop there?
.
In 2 Timothy 2:15, we’re charged to rightly handle the Word of Truth and to study to show ourselves approved unto God. And in 1 Peter 3, we’re told to always be ready to give an account of the hope that we have in Christ.
.
Should part of that readiness be Biblical literacy–not just being able to quote Scripture, but being able to use those Scriptures to better know God–His character and attributes–and to better know the doctrines of our faith and how those are to be lived out in our everyday lives? .

Today, we’re joined by @phyliciamasonheimer who is going to help answer that question and hopefully give us some tips for living in the tension of both a simple faith and practical theology.

#christianmom #momtomompodcast #stopcallingmebeautiful #phyliciamasonheimer
#biblicalliteracy #theology #theologymatters #wordoftruth
See that smile on my face? That smile is because G See that smile on my face? That smile is because God sent me a sweet holy reminder this week in the form of my first royalty check for The God Dare.
.
In this day and age it’s a rare thing for most authors to pay back their advance to their publisher, especially within the first 6 months of a books release. So I’m standing here in awe of His goodness and the faithfulness of all of you who’ve read and shared my book. I’m honored and deeply humbled as He used this moment to remind me how good He’s been to me in this writing journey.
.
The God Dare has been a labor of love that took 8 years to go from simple blog post to published book and I stand here amazed today that it’s already in its second printing and, I earned my first royalty check.
.
My first book came out in 2012 and I’ve yet to pay back that advance. It can take time and for most of us it does, especially in the Christian book world. But if you’re a writer who’s got a book coming out soon or you’re thinking of writing some day, follow that dream. Dreams do come true...I promise 💖.
.
Keep writing, keep trusting, keep praying, keep believing. He has a plan and it’s good. Bless you and thank you all so very much for all you love & support 😘. #hopewriters #calledcreatives #authorsofig #writersofinstagram #christianwriters #publishedauthor #hopewriter #thegoddare #christianpublishing #amwriting @hopewriters @calledcreatives
If you’re a mom, you’re human and you’re goi If you’re a mom, you’re human and you’re going to make mistakes. ⠀
⠀
Your kids WILL frustrate you. You’ll get angry, crabby and irritated. It goes with the territory so stop beating yourself up over it. We’ve all done it, we’ll do it again. Living in a fallen world with fallen natures takes everything in us to conquer the sin deep within. But, your children will survive your crabby days, I promise! And, there's hope for change.⠀
⠀
I’m further along in my parenting journey, my daughter is grown with children of her own so I’ll share my perspective. I struggled with anger, I still do to be honest. Mostly because I have a way in my head I think everything should be. When it doesn’t look the way I want it to, I snap. I answer harshly. I’m impatient. I want to control life and I want life a certain way—my way—which is rarely THE way.⠀
⠀
I’m selfish, thinking I have rights but the truth is, when we follow Christ we give up our right to ourselves. We tell the Lord with all sincerity, “I surrender all” until we don’t and the inner ugly rears its head. I must surrender my ways, my wants, my ego, my future, my time, my control, my everything to the only One who can change me from the inside out. ⠀
⠀
The way you love is the way you’ll live. If you sincerely love the Lord with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength, then His love will flow out of you naturally. Not perfectly but naturally. Because, mama, you’ll never be perfect.... .
To read the rest, head to @joyfullifemagazine and look for the same picture as this post. 
#hopewriter #calledcreatives #writersofinstagram #writersofinsta #authorsofinstagram #honestlymothering #mothering #joyfullife
I remember my mom praying "now I lay me down to sl I remember my mom praying "now I lay me down to sleep" each night when I was little, along with some other prayers that weren't very Biblical but brought comfort to a scared little girl. Our family didn't place much emphasis on God or prayer and I didn't come to know the Lord until after I turned 29. When I had my daughter a year later, I knew prayer would be an integral part of our lives. I'm convinced time on our knees is the best investment we can make in our children's lives.⁠⠀
⁠⠀
Before your children were a glimmer in your eye, God knew them and set a plan for his or her life firmly in place. God ordered their steps and set the course of their lives with every twist and turn already mapped out. He dreamed a big dream and gave you the task, with His help, of finding out what that big dream is. He wants to guide you every step of the way and help you dig down deep and mine every ounce of greatness in your child. Because the dreams and desires we hold for our children and ourselves are important to God—more important than we can imagine. ⁠⠀
⁠⠀
I was never afraid to believe God had a huge plan for my daughter. I was just naive enough to take God at His word and believe in the power of destiny. I've seen my belief bear tremendous fruit over the years. I'm pleading with you here: Don't be afraid to dream BIG for your child....
.
To read the rest of the post, please head on over to @joyfullifemagazine .
Blessings!!. #hopewriter #authorsofig #mothering #joyfullife #motherwell #dreambigger #mothersofinstagram ⁠⠀
I’m absolutely loving this beautiful book from t I’m absolutely loving this beautiful book from the amazing @thekatieorr! It’s the perfect book to dive into right now with all the upheaval going on in the world and the temptation to sink into sadness & depression.
.
There truly is a path to happiness, real, enduring happiness. In fact, Katie shares 6 ways to nurture the happy soul already within us.
.
Let her words help you find the happy, fulfilled life you’ve always dreamed about!.
.
The happy soul is a holy soul.
The holy soul is a happy soul.
These are unprecedented times. So many parents are These are unprecedented times. So many parents are being thrown into schooling-from-home with little to no direction. We’ve shared before in episode 30 some general ideas and suggestions for homeschooling, so we’re not going to unpack all of that today. But we would like to dive deeper into one part of homeschooling that we believe is the foundation for what all the rest of our child’s education and really their very lives is built upon.
.
Today, we’re talking about Morning Time. Some folks prefer to call it Morning Basket, Morning Meeting, others who maybe choose to slot it at other times in the day instead of the morning have been known to call it Symposium or Power Hour. No matter what you call it, if you’ve been homeschooling for any length of time, you definitely know that it’s a current buzzword in homeschooling circles. It seems that everyone has caught the fever.
.
Check out our site to find all of our Morning Basket recommendations!.
.
#morningtime #morningbasket #morningmeeting #symposium #powerhour #homeschoolingideas #homeschoolingmom #homeschoolingfamily #schoolathome #homeschoollife #homeschoolmom
Join me on Instagram!

Copyright © 2021 Kate Battistelli · All Rights Reserved · Powered by Mai Theme