Christmas Shortbread
Ingredients
300g unbleached all-purpose flour
200g unsalted butter, softened
100g fine cane sugar
2g salt
1/2 tsp vanilla extract or paste
Food coloring of any colors you love, 2 colors
Method
In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes.
Sift together the flour and salt. Slowly pour the flour into the butter and mix on low until a dough forms.
Weigh the dough and divide it evenly in half. Place one half back into the mixer with 2-4 drops of your choice of food coloring. Mix until the color is evenly distributed throughout the dough. Remove the dough, wrap in plastic wrap, and place in the fridge for 30 minutes. Repeat this process with the other half of dough using your second choice of coloring.
After 30 minutes, remove both doughs from the fridge. Divide one color into 8 equal-sized pieces and the other color into 7 pieces. Roll each piece into a log about 1/2 inch thick. Place the logs onto a sheet tray and freeze for 10 minutes.
Preheat your oven to 320°F and line a sheet tray with parchment paper.
Remove the dough logs from the freezer and start assembling by lining up four logs of each color in an alternating pattern. Repeat this process twice more, making sure to alternate which color you start with so you have three pieces of 4 logs pressed together. Place all three pieces onto the sheet tray and return to the freezer for 10 minutes.
Remove the tray from the freezer and stack the three pieces to create a checkered pattern when sliced. Press the dough together into a rectangle, straightening the sides. Slice off each end, then slice the cookies about 1/3"-1/2" thick, keeping them relatively uniform in thickness.
Place the cookies onto the prepared sheet tray with parchment paper in rows of four and bake at 320°F for 15-18 minutes, or until the edges are just slightly golden.
Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely before serving or freezing. Store in an airtight bag or container. Enjoy!
NotesThis recipe may seem complex at first, but it becomes straightforward once you make your first batch. If something doesn't go according to plan, don't worry! You can create your own shapes or patterns and bake for the same amount of time to make delicious shortbread cookies.
While I used pink/red and green for my colors, you can choose any colors you like to suit any occasion throughout the year!
