Cranberry Shortbread 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.

CITRUS SHORTBREAD COOKIES

Steps:

• Combine flour, baking powder, and salt in a bowl; set aside. Beat the butter and confectioners' sugar with an electric mixer in a large bowl until smooth. Stir in the vanilla and almond extracts and orange zest. Mix in the flour mixture until just incorporated. Fold in the cranberries; mixing just enough to evenly combine.
• Divide the dough into 2 equal portions, then roll into logs about 7 inches long. Wrap each log in wax paper or plastic wrap, and chill in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours.
• Preheat an oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Remove wax paper, and cut the cookie dough into 1/2-inch slices. Arrange the slices on a baking sheet about 1 inch apart.
• Bake in the preheated oven until firm but not browned, about 10 minutes.

CRANBERRY-WHITE CHOCOLATE SHORTBREAD

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F. Beat butter and sugar in large bowl with mixer until light and fluffy. Add flour; mix well. Stir in chocolate and cranberries.
• Drop rounded tablespoons of dough, 2 inches apart, onto baking sheets; flatten slightly.
• Bake 10 to 14 min. or until lightly browned. Cool 5 min. on baking sheets. Remove to wire racks; cool completely.

CRANBERRY SHORTBREAD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F. Line an 8x8x2" pan with parchment, leaving a 2" overhang on 2 opposite sides. Whisk flour, 1/4 cup sugar, and salt in a medium bowl. Using your fingertips, rub butter into dry ingredients until mixture resembles coarse meal.
• Transfer to prepared pan; press evenly onto bottom of pan (using the bottom of a flat measuring cup works well). Prick dough all over with a fork.
• Bake shortbread until cooked through and pale golden, 25-30 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack. Let cool completely in pan. DO AHEAD: Shortbread can be made 3 days ahead. Cover pan tightly with plastic wrap and store at room temperature.
• Bring remaining 1/2 cup sugar, 1 1/2 cups cranberries, and grapefruit juice to a simmer in a small saucepan and cook, stirring occasionally, until cranberries burst and mixture is syrupy, about 8 minutes. Stir in remaining cranberries and cook until skins begin to split, about 3 minutes. Let cool. DO AHEAD: Cranberry topping can be made 3 days ahead. Cover and chill.
• Spread cooled cranberry topping over shortbread. Scatter zest over. Using paper overhang, lift shortbread from pan and transfer to a cutting board. Cut shortbread.

ORANGE-CRANBERRY SHORTBREAD

Steps:

• In a small bowl, toss cranberries with liqueur, orange zest and vanilla. Let stand, covered, 1 hour., In a large bowl, cream butter and sugars until light and fluffy. Add cranberry mixture; beat just until combined. In another bowl, whisk flour, cinnamon, salt, ginger and cloves; gradually beat into creamed mixture., Divide dough in half. Shape each into a disk; wrap in plastic. Refrigerate 30 minutes or until firm enough to roll., Preheat oven to 350°. On a lightly floured surface, roll each portion of dough to 1/2-in. thickness. Cut with a floured 2-3/4-in. cookie cutter. Place 1 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets. If desired, sprinkle with colored or coarse sugar. Refrigerate 10 minutes before baking., Bake 12-15 minutes or until edges are light brown. Remove from pans to wire racks to cool.

DRIED CRANBERRY SHORTBREAD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325F with rack in center.
• Put butter, sugar, vanilla, flour, and salt, in large mixing bowl. Stir together by hand until combined, but not creamy. Stir in dried cranberries.
• Press dough evenly into 8" square baking pan.
• Bake until firm and pale golden, about 30 minutes.
• Let cool in pan on wire rack about 20 minutes.
• Run knife around edges to loosen from pan and move to work surface, right side up.
• Cut out using cookie cutter, or cut in to squares using knife.

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-ORANGE SHORTBREAD COOKIES

Steps:

• Mix together flour, salt, baking powder, and ginger in a small bowl.
• Cream together butter and 1/2 cup sugar in a large bowl until light and fluffy. Mix in orange juice, orange zest, and vanilla extract until thoroughly incorporated. Add in 1/2 of the flour mixture and mix until just combined. Mix in remaining flour mixture until just combined. Stir in cranberries.
• Form dough into a 9x2 1/2-inch rectangular log. Wrap dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 4 hours or overnight.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
• Remove dough from the refrigerator and cut into 1/4-inch thick slices. Place 1 inch apart on the prepared baking sheets and sprinkle the top of each cookie with a little additional white sugar.
• Bake in the preheated oven until edges of cookies just begin to brown, 12 to 15 minutes. Allow cookies to cool 5 minutes on baking sheets before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.

CRANBERRY PISTACHIO SHORTBREAD

Steps:

• In a large bowl whisk the flour with the salt and cinnamon.
• In the bowl of your electric mixer (or with a hand mixer), cream the butter until smooth (about 1 - 2 minutes). Add the sugar and beat until smooth and creamy (about 3 minutes). Beat in the zest and vanilla extract. Gently stir in the flour mixture just until incorporated. Fold in the chopped pistachios and dried cranberries. (Make sure that the nuts and cranberries are evenly distributed throughout the dough.).
• Divide the dough in half. Place each half of dough on the center of a 14 inch (35 cm) length of parchment or wax paper (plastic wrap will work too). Smooth and shape the dough into an evenly shaped rectangle that is about 10 inches (25 cm) long and 2 inches (5 cm) wide. Then thoroughly wrap the shaped logs in the parchment or wax paper, twists the ends of the paper to seal the logs, and place in the refrigerator to chill for at least two hours, or up to three days. (The logs can also be frozen for about two months. If freezing, it is best to defrost the logs in the refrigerator overnight before slicing and baking.).
• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (160 degrees C) with the rack in the center of the oven. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
• Using a thin bladed knife, slice the logs into ¼ to ½ inch (.5 to 1 cm) thick cookies. If dough is too hard to slice you may need to let the log set our for 5 minutes. Place the cookies on the prepared baking sheet, spacing about 2 inches (5 cm) apart.
• Bake for about 15 - 18 minutes, or until the cookies are just beginning to brown around the edges. Remove from oven and cool on a wire rack. Check at 12 minutes - the type of pan you use can really make a big difference in cooking time.
• Note. The original recipe calls for unsalted butter, I prefer my shortbread with salted butter, so try it either way.

LEMON--CRANBERRY SHORTBREAD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 300°F Line a 13x9 metal pan with foil, letting foil extend past edges (for ease of removal later).
• Grate 2 tablespoons plus 1/2 teaspoon peel from lemons. Then squeeze 2 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon juice. NOTE: Both the peel and juice will be divided between the shortbread and the glaze.
• In food processor with knife blade attached, blend butter, granulated sugar, 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar, 2 tablespoons lemon peel, and 1 tablespoon lemon juice until creamy. (Reserve remaining lemon peel and juice for glaze). Add flour and pulse until dough begins to come together. Add cranberries and pulse until evenly mixed into dough (it's OK if all the cranberries aren't chopped). Press dough evenly into prepared pan with fingertips.
• Bake 35-40 minutes or until top is pale golden and edges are very slightly browned. Cool in pan on wire rack.
• When shortbread is cool, in small bowl, stir remaining 1 cup confectioners' sugar, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, and 1/2 teaspoon lemon peel until smooth, adding a little remaining juice if necessary to make a good spreading consistency. Spread glaze over shortbread. Let stand until it sets, about 30 minutes.
• Using foil, transfer shortbread to cutting board. Cut lengthwise into 3 strips, then make diagonal cuts to cut each strip into 12 triangles.
• Before serving, sprinkle with lemon-peel curls if desired.
• Store shortbread in tightly covered container, with waxed paper between layers, at room temperature up to 4 days, or in freezer up to 3 months.

CRANBERRY SHORTBREAD BARS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425°. In a large bowl, cream butter and confectioners' sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in egg. Combine flour, coconut and salt; gradually add to creamed mixture and mix well. Set aside 1 cup for topping. Spread remaining mixture into a greased 13x9-in. baking dish. Bake 10 minutes., Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, combine sugars and cornstarch. Stir in cranberries and apple juice. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cook and stir 5 minutes or until thickened. Remove from heat; stir in walnuts. , Spread over crust. Sprinkle with reserved crumb mixture. Bake 20-25 minutes or until golden brown and bubbly. Cool on a wire rack. Drizzle with white chocolate. Cut into bars.

DRIED-CRANBERRY SHORTBREAD HEARTS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 325 degrees with rack in center. Combine butter, confectioners' sugar, vanilla, flour, and salt in large mixing bowl. Beat with a wooden spoon until combined but not too creamy. Stir in dried cranberries.
• Pat dough evenly into an 8- or 9-inch-square baking pan. Bake until just beginning to turn golden, about 20 minutes. Place pan on cooling rack until cool enough to touch, about 20 minutes. Run knife around edges, remove shortbread, and transfer, right side up, to work surface. Use 1 1/2- to 2-inch heart cookie cutter to cut out cookies. Use a paring knife to trim stray bits of cranberry from edges. Cookies will keep for 5 days at room temperature in an airtight container.

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.