Shortbread Ornament Cookies Recipes

SHORTBREAD ORNAMENT COOKIES

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar and salt; cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in water and extracts until mixture forms a ball. , On a lightly floured surface, roll dough to 1/4-in. thickness. Cut with floured cookie cutters. Place 1 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes. , Bake at 325° for 15-18 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. Cool for 2 minutes before removing to wire racks to cool completely. , For icing, in a large bowl, whisk the confectioners' sugar and milk. Divide into small bowls; tint with food coloring if desired. Gently spread over cookies. Decorate as desired.

FROSTED SHORTBREAD HOLIDAY COOKIES

Steps:

• Sift flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt into a large mixing bowl.
• Cream butter and sugar in another large mixing bowl. Mix in eggs, then mix in vanilla. Gradually add in dry ingredients until incorporated. Remove dough from the bowl and wrap in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for at least 3 hours.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line 2 cookie sheets with parchment paper.
• Remove dough from the refrigerator and roll out to desired thickness on a lightly floured surface. Sprinkle more flour on top of and under the dough, and on the rolling pin as needed to help prevent dough from sticking to the surface. Cut cookies with a round cookie cutter and place 2 inches apart on the prepared cookie sheets.
• Bake until cookies are firm to the touch, 10 to 12 minutes. Remove from the oven and transfer to a wire rack to cool, about 30 minutes.
• Generously apply frosting to cooled cookies with a butter knife. Sprinkle crushed candy canes over top.

SNOWMEN SHORTBREAD COOKIES

Steps:

• Sift together flour and salt into a small bowl. In a food processor, pulse almonds until finely ground (do not overprocess, as nuts will turn into a paste).
• With an electric mixer on medium speed, beat butter until fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add confectioners' sugar, and continue to beat until light and fluffy, occasionally scraping down the sides of the bowl, about 2 minutes more. Beat in ground almonds and almond extract. Add flour mixture, and beat on low speed until combined, scraping down the sides of the bowl with spatula if necessary, until flour is just incorporated and dough sticks together when squeezed with fingers.
• Turn dough out onto a piece of plastic and form into a flat disk; wrap in plastic. Chill until firm, at least 1 hour or up to overnight.
• Roll out dough on a lightly floured surface to a 1/4-inch thickness. With a lightly floured 4-inch snowman cutter, cut dough into shapes, and arrange 2 inches apart on parchment-lined baking sheets. Re-roll scraps, and cut out more shapes, if desired. Chill 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, preheat oven to 325 degrees. Bake until shortbread is firm and just starting to color, rotating sheets halfway through, 20 to 22 minutes. Transfer cookies on sheets to a wire rack to cool completely. Dust with sugar. Shortbread can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature up to 2 weeks.