Whipped Christmas Shortbread Food

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 300 degrees F (148 degrees C)
• In the bowl of a stand mixer with the paddle attachment, (or in a large bowl) cream butter and icing sugar until light and fluffy (you can use an electric hand mixer, but it's not ideal).
• Gradually add flour and cornstarch, beating on medium high speed, until well blended.
• With hands lightly dusted with additional cornstarch, roll cookie dough into 1 inch. balls (or use a small cookie scoop)
• Place 1 inch. apart on ungreased baking sheet.
• Press lightly with floured tines of a fork.
• Add nonpareils and/or cherry halves, if desired to the top of the cookies.
• Baking time: Bake at 300° for 20-22 minutes or until bottoms are lightly browned.
• Cool for 5 minutes before moving from pans to wire racks to continue cooling. *If you try to move them too early, they will fall apart.

WHIPPED SHORTBREAD

Steps:

• In a large bowl, cream butter and confectioners' sugar until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Gradually add flour and cornstarch, beating until well blended. , With hands lightly dusted with additional cornstarch, roll dough into 1-in. balls. Place 1 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets. Press lightly with a floured fork. Top with nonpareils or cherry halves. , Bake at 300° until bottoms are lightly browned, 20-22 minutes. Cool for 5 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks.

WHIPPED SHORTBREAD COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• In a large bowl, combine butter, flour, and confectioners' sugar. With an electric mixer, beat for 10 minutes, until light and fluffy. Spoon onto cookie sheets, spacing cookies 2 inches apart. Place a piece of maraschino cherry onto the middle of each cookie, alternating between red and green.
• Bake for 15 to 17 minutes in the preheated oven, or until the bottoms of the cookies are lightly browned. Remove from oven, and let cool on cookie sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer cookies on to wire rack to cool. Store in an airtight container, separating each layer with waxed paper.

UNCLE BILL'S WHIPPED SHORTBREAD COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• In a mixing bowl and using an electric mixer, combine butter, flour, icing sugar and vanilla extract; mix until mixture is a smooth consistency.
• Prepare cookie sheets with parchment paper.
• Spoon out dough onto parchment lined cookie sheets by teaspoonfuls or by tablespoons for larger cookies, spacing about 2 inches apart.
• Cut maraschino cherries into quarters and place one piece in the middle of each cookie, alternating with red and green cherries.
• Bake in preheated 350 F oven for 13 to 15 minutes or until bottom of cookies are lightly browned, DO NOT OVERBAKE.
• Remove from oven and let cool on cookie sheet for about 5 minutes.
• Transfer onto wire racks to finish cooling.
• Store in a container with a lid and separate each layer with wax paper.
• NOTE: If you wish to add some flavor to the cookies, add 1 teaspoon of pure vanilla extract or almond extract.
• Use sprinkles, half an almond or half a cashew or chocolate to the top of the cookies before baking.
• A thumbprint in the cookie, filled with your choice of jam is very tasty.
• It has been suggested that the cookies be refrigerated for at least 1/2 hour before baking for a different texture.

WHIPPED SHORTBREAD

Steps:

• In a large bowl, cream the butter.
• Add dry ingredients.
• Whip for 10-12 minutes; batter will be shiny, and form peaks.
• Fold in chopped glace cherries. Or garnish with a topping of your choice.
• Optional- Chill dough overnight(you can keep for a few days in the fridge) before baking take out and leave at room temperature for 1 hour, whip it up again in the mixer for about 5 minutes. This option allows you to roll and shape the cookies. Still melt in your mouth!
• Drop from a 1 tsp measure OR roll dough on to a cookie sheet based on the the option you chose. (I level the tsp to make uniform, tiny cookies. A very small cookie scoop or tiny melon scoop is handy for uniform cookies. Due to how soft and delicate this cookie is making it bigger is not recommended).
• Bake at 325 degrees for 8-10 minutes, OR until bottom edges begin to brown. If they are smaller then watch the first batch to monitor the time required per batch.
• Watch them carefully they can burn quickly.
• When removed from the oven allow them to cool for about two minutes on the cookie sheet, carefully move them onto a cooling rack with a spatula.
• Allow them to cool on the rack for 15 minutes or more. If they are NOT cool they will crumble more easily and won't set properly.
• My taste tester's at home tell me they taste better when they are cool. If you are taking to a cookie exchange baking them one day before it allows the texture and taste to be perfect.
• ***Avoid letting them cool longer than necessary on the cookie sheet or they might stick and break apart when you try to move them.