Best Ever Shortbreads
‘Tis the season to be indulging (a little bit)!
It is only a little shortbread…but you cannot stop eating these best ever shortbread cookies nor can your guests stop asking for more!
As a teenager, my step mother made us these shortbreads every Christmas. Thirty years later and with some healthy modifications, I still make them…and many batches during the Christmas season. Most recently and for my kids, Josephine and Charlotte, we enjoy them on our annual Christmas lights drive and during tree decorating night. Lucky Santa…he gets them too!
Happy to share at the request of many…it was the Auum potluck crowd that begged for the recipe.
Enjoy and please share how your best ever shortbread cookies turn out.
Cheryl’s Shortbread!
A short essay on the makings of some fine tasting shortbread…only 3 ingredients
First and this step will be very helpful…you will thank me. Take the pound of butter out of the refrigerator (organic if possible)!
Take out butter so that it is easier to cut, but it cannot be too soft – up to a couple of hours before making the best ever shortbread cookies OR expect to put more muscle into the kneading (doable).
Start with 4 cups of flour…I use mostly organic flours like Buckwheat and Millet (not related to me he he he)…sometimes whole wheat, sometimes spelt and sometimes freshly ground in my most favourite machine, the Vitamixer – everyone needs one of these for all the things it does. One of my neighbours almost got into a divorce over wanting one…she just had to have it. I know the ‘have to have it’ feeling. OK 4 cups of flour.
I know…get on with it! Now for the sweet part…1 cup of sugar, but not just any sugar. It must be finely granulated. In the original shortbread recipe, it calls for 3/4 cup fruit sugar and 1/4 icing sugar…but I cannot get these in organic sugars. So, here is where my Vitamixer comes to the rescue. I use the organic sugar cane and ground it up fine. You can always use a coffee grinder or another blender.
Every batch can vary…so don’t be afraid to add cinnamon or other spices! For the Auum potluck I use a pinch of vanilla bean powder and cinnamon.
Mix all the dry ingredients in a very large mixing bowl.
Preheat the oven to 275 degrees before the next step.
Now for the most important ingredient…the one pound of butter (no measuring needed…nice eh!). Been using the unsalted cultured organic butter. However, the unsalted was not available last week so I used the salted…oh well! Drop in a whole pound of the stuff, cut the butter with two butter knives to mix with the dry ingredients until they form smaller pieces.
You will have to take off all your jewelry (rings) for the next part, and make sure you are ready to use your muscles. You will thank me afterwards as they will melt in your mouth.
Time to mix with both hands and kneed the dough. I stand on a footstool (to get some leverage going), mix the butter with the flour until you make a ball of dough. Kneed the ball of shortbread for 5 to 10 minutes.
Plop the ball of dough into a cookie sheet. I use a baking stone but for many many years, I used a baking sheet (with one inch lip). Spread out the dough evenly into the corners, covering the whole pan.
You can shape the dough into cookies if you like but that will take up a lot of time and not make them taste any better. However, it is fun to play with them especially with kids. I now make my kids first initial of their name…they LOVE that. They are the biggest letters you have ever seen so they take a few days to eat it.
Take a fork, any fork, and make fork marks generously all over the dough – stops it from rising (the SHORT in shortbread). My kids like doing this part…helps to let out some excitement!
Time to put the tray into the oven and bake for 45 mins to 1.5 hours (will depend on how hot your oven is or the kind of ingredients you use) or until lightly lightly golden.
Next very important step unless you want to have one BIG or broken cookie!
Once you take out the shortbread from the oven, grab a butter knife (using the dull side or any other tool that will not cut into your pan) and cut into bars immediately while hot…make bigger bars for a more generous cookie serving or bite size for dessert trays. Let cool and store in cookie jar, in fridge or package and put in the freezer.
Make some of your favourite tea or warm up some milk with cinnamon and enjoy. I dare you only to have one cookie (no cheating by making larger cookies)!
Best of fun making your best ever shortbread cookies! More Recipes
Merry Christmas! Happy Holidays! Season’s Greetings!
Along with enjoying your favourites read 5 Tips Navigating Holiday Feasting.
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Cheryl Millett
Champion for your better health…
Before the age of 20, it never dawned on me that what I chose to put in my mouth would have such a dramatic effect on my wellbeing.
On my path of discovery, I learned that our eating choices directly affected how much energy we have first thing in the morning or that it would build our immune system strength during flu season. I came to understand how gentle nutritional cleansing directly helped overcome my health challenges. People keep telling me how beautiful my skin is or how I look younger.
As my studies continued, it became obvious that there is an intrinsic connection between the mind, body and spirit which directly affects our health and happiness. I learned that Omegas are another critical piece of the wellness puzzle. I became convinced when the Auum omegas alone turned on some switches in my brain in just one day.
I have developed a deep appreciation for the wonderful miracle workers our bodies are in the recovery process. Our bodies have a natural intelligence. I am passionate to share the connection between nutrition and wellness in my practice and my presentations.
