Shortbread cookies are very popular at our house for a special Christmas treat. When my kids were younger, we used to make them every year and share with family and friends. I usually just take the recipe from my cookbook, but not this time around. I was talking to my friend Sandy from Canadian Blog House that I was going to write an article on shortbread cookies, and she mentioned that her mom, Sue, had the most amazing and delicious recipe. The recipe has been in her family since before she was born. I asked if she would happily share it with OMC readers and she gracefully accepted.
The recipe calls for Berry Sugar, a superfine sugar that dissolves quickly. I had never heard of this type of sugar, so I couldn’t wait to use it and see if it would make a difference in the texture of the cookies. Well, let me tell you that you won’t be disappointed by baking these Christmas shortbread cookies! They are so delicious that you will make more than one batch. Thanks Sue and Sandy!
Before baking the cookies, I thought I would share a few tips for making the best Christmas shortbread cookies:
Use Unsalted Butter
You should use unsalted butter to control the amount of salt in the cookies for a more balanced and enhanced flavour.
Keep Your Butter at Room Temperature
I always take out the butter from the refrigerator and leave it on the counter overnight to soften. If you use hard butter, I find it’s difficult to work with the batter and it will leave chucks of butter. If you overwork the batter, it won’t make the cookies as soft, and melted butter is not a good option since it will make the cookies tough.
Cream Butter, Lard, and Sugar together
Cream the butter and lard with sugar to make a smooth mixture before you add other ingredients. Again, this will help with not overworking the batter as you won’t have to mix it as much. Therefore, it will keep the cookies tender.
Chill your Dough to Keep Christmas Shortbread Cookie Shape
It’s very important to chill the dough before cutting them with cookie cutters to help retain the shape of the cookies. If not, they will spread in the oven and lose their shape while baking.
Christmas Shortbread Cookies Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 Pound of unsalted Butter (2 cups or 4 sticks)
- 1 cup Berry Sugar
- 4 cups Flour
- 1 cup Rice Flour
- 1 tsp Lard (Tenderflake or Crisco Shortening)
- Maraschino cherries, sprinkles, frosting or baking gums for decorations
Direction
- 1. Preheat oven to 350F with rack on lower middle position. Line baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats and set aside.
- 2. In the bowl of a stand mixer, add butter, sugar and lard. Using paddle attachment on medium-high speed, mix until fluffy and light, several minutes.
- 3. Add all flour slowly and gradually and blend well after each addition. The dough should end up soft and pliable like play-dough and not sticky.
- 4. Split dough into 2 equal round portions. Wrap the dough in plastic wraps and chill for a couple of hours at least.
- 5. On a large surface or board, sprinkle 1/2 cup flour to keep dough from sticking to it and roll with a rolling pin.
- 6. Roll out to about 1/4 inch thickness and use holiday cookie cutters for shapes. Place each cookie 2 inches apart on baking sheet.
- 7. Place each cookie 2 inches apart on baking sheet. Add a half maraschino or glacé cherry to the centre, or a baking gumdrop.
- 8. Bake at 350 degrees for about 10 minutes or until edges are golden brown. Bake longer for bigger shapes.
- 9. Cool completely on wire rack before serving.
- 10. You can add frosting and decorate with sprinkles and others.
- 11. Keep cookies in a sealed airtight container at room temperature. These cookies will freeze quite well for several weeks.
I hope you enjoyed this Christmas Shortbread Cookies Recipe. If you make it, make sure to share with us on Facebook or Twitter! Another one of our delicious holiday cookies recipe is the Crème Brulée Gingersnap. You can also check out all of our other Recipes!
Christmas Shortbread cookies
Equipment
- Mixer
Ingredients
- 1 Pound Unsalted Butter 2 cups or 4 sticks
- 1 cup Berry Sugar
- 4 cups Flour
- 1 cup Rice Flour
- 1 tsp Lard Tenderflake or Crisco Shortening
- Maraschino cherries, sprinkles, frosting or baking gums for decorations
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F with rack on lower middle position. Line baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats and set aside.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer, add butter, sugar and lard. Using paddle attachment on medium-high speed, mix until fluffy and light, several minutes.
- Add all flour slowly and gradually and blend well after each addition. The dough should end up soft and pliable like play-dough and not sticky.
- Split dough into 2 equal round portions. Wrap the dough in plastic wraps and chill for a couple of hours at least.
- On a large surface or board, sprinkle 1/2 cup flour to keep dough from sticking to it and roll with a rolling pin.
- Roll out to about 1/4 inch thickness and use holiday cookie cutters for shapes. Place each cookie 2 inches apart on baking sheet.
- Place each cookie 2 inches apart on baking sheet. Add a half maraschino or glacé cherry to the centre, or a baking gumdrop.
- Bake at 350 degrees for about 10 minutes or until edges are golden brown. Bake longer for bigger shapes.
- Cool completely on wire rack before serving.
- You can add frosting and decorate with sprinkles and others.
- Keep cookies in a sealed airtight container at room temperature. These cookies will freeze quite well for several weeks.
I love shortbread. I will have to try your recipe. I think chilling it is a great idea.
Rarely have shortbread, but I hope I can get a taste especially at this time of year!
Shortbread is one of my favourite treats at Christmas time!! I don’t want to sound silly but what is Berry sugar
Super Fine & Berry Sugar products are Granulated Sugar made of very fine crystals. Whether used in hot or cold beverages, sprinkled on fruits and pastries, or simply used in your everyday baking, super fine sugar dissolves instantly. http://www.lantic.ca/en/products/super-fine-berry-sugar/
Thank you, this is the first time I have heard this term berry sugar, makes a whole lot of sense now!!
My pleasure!
I think I might try this recipe instead of my own!
Mmmm – I love shortbread cookies! They are the perfect Christmas cookie, in my opinion (well, gingerbread, too) because you can decorate them anyway you want and it is a fun activity to decorate with your family.
I will have to try this recipe, though my sister-in-law makes fantastic shortbread. She does have an inherent advantage though, she’s a Scot. 🙂 I’ve never heard of berry sugar nor lantic sugar, however now I know that the former is castor sugar and I’m thinking that lantic sugar is even finer than castor sugar – I didn’t even know that there was a product like that!
I love step 6. Seriously. Watch those suckers 😉
This is a perfect recipe! quick, easy and perfect for the holidays. I have this bookmarked so that I can make these for my girls upcoming Christmas 🙂
Yum! Bookmarking to try for our Christmas baking this year 🙂 Thanks
Enjoy!
first time in years I actually feel like baking. recipe looks very tasty
My Mom used to make real shortbread at Christmas and it was so good but I have only made whipped shortbread. Maybe I’ll try this year!
Let me know how you like my recipe!
I love shortbread during the holidays but I always get store-bought ones. I think I might have to attempt making my own with your recipe… I bet freshly baked ones are even better!
I make shortbread cookies every year after which my kids and I have a blast decorating them.
Shortbread has always been a favourite of mine. I like to make it with potato starch as well as flour, but I’m curious what it would be like with rice flour. I’ve not made it with unsalted butter but that’s a good tip.
Thanks for the shortbread cookie recipe these look delicious
I love shortbread cookies . I haven’t made them in so long . I used a very basic recipe , going to try this one .
Yummy and I’m such a sucker for shortbread,might have to make some on the weekend !
Your cookies look yummy but I’ve never heard of berry sugar before
Shortbread is not just for holidays but I so do love them during the holidays!
Usually when unsalted butter is used in a recipe, 1/4 tsp of salt per lb of butter, is added. Is Unsalted butter ,with no salt added correct?
Also 1 tsp of lard in a mixture this size? Could it be noticed if it was skipped?
I have not tried the recipe without the lard, so you would have to try it to see. Yes, it’s best to use unsalted butter.