Shortbread Cookies Recipe

Here's a shortbread cookies recipe for cookies in bulk, it all depends on the size of your cookie cutters. It's only butter, sugar and flour, so you can decorate at will.

Hearts for Valentine's can be sprinkled with red hot candies, bells and stars for Christmas can get dusted with red and green sugars, and Springtime holidays can be a riot of color with candy-coated chocolates.

A simple glazing with confectioners' sugar and butter can make even the simplest of cookies dazzle your guests. Have fun!

Festive Shortbread Cookies Recipe

4 cups all purpose flour
2 cups unsalted butter, softened
1 3/4 cup confectioners' sugar

Sift together the flour and confectioners' sugar, then set aside.

With an electric mixer, cream the softened butter until it is light and fluffy. With the mixer on medium low speed, slowly add the sifted flour and sugar until it is well incorporated with the butter.

Divide the dough into 2 pieces and wrap each one individually in plastic wrap. Refrigerate the dough for 45 minutes to 1 hour.

Preheat the oven to 300F.

Put 2 tablespoons of flour on a work surface and knead once of the pieces of dough for 30 seconds. Roll the dough out to 1/4" and cut into shapes with cookie cutters. Lay the cut cookies on an ungreased cookie sheet. Repeat the process with another 2 tablespoons of flour for the second piece of dough. Roll up any scraps and make more cookies.

Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 15 to 20 minutes. Let them cool completely on wire racks before storing in an airtight container.

Food For Thought - These basic shortbread cookies can be dressed up in a number of ways.

Add a citrusy punch with 1 tablespoon of orange or lemon juice and 1 tablespoon of grated orange or lemon zest.

Add a little depth with 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract.

A handful of slivered almonds sprinkled over the cookies will be enhanced by the addition of 1 teaspoon almond extract to the cookie dough.

You Might Need:

• Kitchen Supply Aluminum Half Size Sheet Pan 18-inch by 13-inch

• Calphalon 12-by-17-Inch Rectangular Nonstick Cooling Rack

• Silpat 11-5/8-by-16-1/2-Inch Nonstick Silicone Baking Mat

• Oxo Good Grips Cookie Scoop