Cranberry Shortbread Cookies 3 Ways Food

CRANBERRY SHORTBREAD STARS

Steps:

• In a large bowl, beat butter, confectioners' sugar and salt until blended. Beat in vanilla. Gradually beat in flour. Stir in cranberries., Shape dough into a disk; wrap in plastic. Refrigerate 30 minutes or until firm enough to roll., Preheat oven to 325°. On a lightly floured surface, roll dough to 1/4-in. thickness. Cut with a floured 2-in. star-shaped cookie cutter. Place 1 in. apart on greased baking sheets., Bake 12-15 minutes or until edges are golden brown. Remove from pans to wire racks to cool.

CRANBERRY SHORTBREAD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.
• Stir together flour, sugar & salt, then cut in butter until mixture resembles fine crumbs.
• Stir in cranberries, then form into a ball & knead until smooth.
• Divide dough in half.
• On a lightly floured surface, pat or roll each dough portion to a 1/2-inch thickness.
• Use a knife & cut into 24 2"x1" strips, then place these strips 1 inch apart on an ungreased baking sheet.
• Bake 20-26 minutes or until bottoms just start to brown.
• Cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then remove & cool completely on wire rack.

CRANBERRY SHORTBREAD COOKIES 3 WAYS

Steps:

• Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy
• Mix in flour a little at a time until combined
• Stir in cranberries
• Form dough into 1 inch balls.
• Use the bottom of a glass dipped in granulated sugar, flatten balls on cookie sheet making rounds 2 inches in diameter.
• Bake 12 - 14 minutes.
• Cookies can be served plain; dusted with powdered sugar when cooled slightly; or dipped in vanilla bark when completely cooled.

CRANBERRY SHORTBREAD BARS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees and place the wire oven rack in the center of the oven. Butter (or spray) a 9x9 inch pan.
• Cranberry Filling: In a medium sized saucepan, place all the ingredients. Over medium heat, cook the ingredients until boiling. Continue to boil the filling until it becomes thick and syrupy, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool while you make the shortbread.
• Shortbreads: In a separate bowl, whisk the flour, cornstarch and salt. In the bowl of your electric mixer (or with a hand mixer) beat the butter until smooth (1 minute). Add the sugar and beat until smooth (2 minutes). Beat in the vanilla. Gently stir in the flour mixture just until incorporated.
• Evenly press two-thirds of the shortbread into the bottom of the prepared pan. Then evenly spread the cranberry filling over the shortbread base, leaving a 1/4 inch border.
• With the remaining shortbread dough, using your fingers crumble it over the top of the cranberry filling. Then lightly press the dough into the filling.
• Bake in a preheated oven for about 30 minutes, or until golden brown on top. Remove from the oven, place on a wire rack, and while hot, cut into 16 squares. Allow to cool completely in pan. Makes about 16 bars.

CRANBERRY LEMON SHORTBREAD COOKIES

Steps:

• With an electric mixer, beat butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in egg yolk and lemon zest.
• Combine flour, salt and cranberries. Gradually stir flour mixture into butter mixture, blending until smooth. Form dough into a ball and wrap with plastic wrap.
• Refrigerate for 30 minutes (not included in prep time). to make it easier to handle.
• Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C). Roll dough out on a lightly floured surface or between two sheets of parchment paper to 1/2-inch (1 cm) thickness.
• Cut into desired shapes with lightly floured cookie cutter or knife. Place cookies on ungreased cookie sheets and bake until lightly golden around the edges, 15 to 20 minute
• Cool completely on wire rack.
• Icing:.
• Mix icing sugar and cranberry juice to form a pale pink icing. Keep covered until ready to use. Once cookies have cooled, decorate each cookie with icing and allow to firm up.