Unfortunately these cookies did not come out exactly like I had hoped. They did however taste really good so I’ll make them again one day. I think my butter was too soft and they just fell apart. On the good side, I was able to get these three cookies out with a cookie cutter and take a picture before the rest fell to a crumbly cranberry mess.
Here’s the recipe if you’re interested.
Yield: one dozen cookies
Cranberry Shortbread Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
- 3/4 cup sifted confectioners' sugar
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 2 cups sifted all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon coarse salt
- 1/2 cup finely chopped dried cranberries
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325. Mix all ingredients except cranberries in a large mixing bowl with a wooden spoon until combined and not too creamy. Then stir in cranberries.
- Press dough evenly into an 8-inch square baking pan. Bake 30 minutes or until firm and pale golden. Cool on a wire rack for about 20 minutes. Remove and place on work surface. Use small 2" cookie cutter. Makes about a dozen cookies.
Notes
From Martha Stewart Holiday Cookies 2006
Your cookies look very delish! I made these cookies yesterday but just cut them into bars after baking. I did put an eggwash on prior to baking. I baked for 30 minutes on 350 degrees. After cooling 10 min. I cut into bars and the dough still crumbled quite a bit. I was able to salvage them and they taste pretty good but they’re a little dry & powdery. They did not taste moist. I’m wondering if I under mixed the dough. I used a stand mixer and was a little leary of over mixing.
These cookies are great! I add an egg white so it stays together.
i egg white doesnt change flavor but helps stay together.
awesome cookies- my moms fave!
They Look so yummy!!
mary, did adding egg white change the flavor or texture?
I made these cookies for Valentine’s Day and had the same problem… it was a crumbly mess!
add 1 egg white & they will hold together better
These are definitely going in my cookie gift boxes
those look quite yummy
hi, why did you cut the cookies out after baking? i thought you would cut it out before baking. is it possible to cut it before baking, and bake it until its crisp? please reply asap, i want to bake it. =) thanks
soooooooo cute!!!!
Wooden spoon! Your butter must have been very soft. I use softened butter in my cookies, but would never dare to use a wooden spoon.
No – I just used a wooden spoon.
do you cream the mixtures or just mix?
I think I will make these this weekend, but I’d like to cut them out before baking. I’m sure trying to turn out a big cookie brick onto a cooling rack would be a disaster in my clumsy hands!
I think they look awesome even though "theyre just about to fall apart" however im bias about shortbread. I love the buttery melt in your mouth taste.