Eat :: White Chocolate and Cranberry shortbread

I just love Christmas, don't you? I know that it may seem a little bizarre that we are doing Christmassy things at the end of October -especially when our friends in the Northern Hemisphere are focussed on Halloween and Thanksgiving, but, I was thinking... we need time to gather our ideas, organise and plan our time, make our projects, give our gifts and just simply enjoy the season.

Since I'm having a HUUUUUUUUUGE giveaway on the blog from now until December, I thought that we would move into Christmas projects and all things handmade and gifty. Keep checking back into the blog for lots of Christmas gift ideas, projects, free patterns and of course- lots and lots of giveaways for you. What do you think?

I'm going to start the Christmas preparations off with these delicious shortbread biscuits. Yummy sweet white chocolate, with lightly folded in cranberries all enveloped with a buttery, biscuit base. The addition of white chocolate takes away from the tartness of the cranberries and makes these a really nice gift idea for someonw who doesn't like sweet things terribly. You, of course, could also omit the white chocolate if you wish.

Makes about a dozen, depending on cutter size.

 

1  Cup/2 sticks (230g/8.1 oz) unsalted butter, room temperature

3/4 cup (95g/ 3.3oz) sifted icing/confectioner's sugar

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

2 cups (250g/8.8oz) sifted plain/all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup (50g/1.8 oz) dried and coarsley chopped cranberries

2/3 cup (80 g/2.8 oz) white chocolate- chopped, plus extra for topping

 

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees Farenheit/ 180 degrees Celsius.

2. Put butter, sugar, vanilla, salt and flour in a large mixing bowl with paddle attachment.

3. Mix together until just combined, not too creamy- just starting to come together.

4. Stir in dried cranberries and white chocolate with a wooden spoon.

5. Press dough evenly into an 8 inch square baking pan.

6. Bake in oven on centre rack until firm and lightly golden, about 30 mins.

7. Let cool on a wire rack.

8. Remove shortbread from pan and transfer to your work bench. Using a 2 inch circle cookie cutter, cut out circles by pressing into shortbread. Trim any cranberries from edges with a sharp knife. Store in an airtight container for up to a week.

In a double boiler, or microwave, melt extra white chocolate. Pour melted chocolate into piping bag with a fine tip. Pipe special Christmas messages onto the top of the shortbread cookie circles.

 

Dont forget to vote for the Red Brolly blog on Craftsy (voting closes Monday)....

Vote for the Red Brolly blog

And don't forget to keep checking back for lots of giveaways for you!!!

In the Red Brolly shop...
               

 

 

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Comments

[Gera]

Hi Bronwyn,
They look great!

Gera

[Christine B.]

Yum! They look delicious and I love cranberries! If I can find some in the shops here I'll have to make some of these!

[Anita]

They look delicious! Thanks for the recipe :)

[Anne-Lise]

Mmm! Definitely on my wishlist :-) Now I know what to do with all the cranberries in my freezer, just need to find out how to dry them first.

[Heleen Groot]

They look absolutely delicious! I will have to try them..... Besides, it is never to early to start Christmas!

[Maja]

They look sooooo yummy :)

[Kay]

Great, thanks for sharing. I love trying new recipes, especially for Christmas.

[Maxine]

What sweet Christmas biscuits. My grandsons might like to help make some.

[Colleen]

YUMMMY! I think that should be in the giveaway, lol! I think the build-up to Christmas is most of the fun, so why not think about it earlier? More time to get excited :o)

[vicki n]

Now you put me into the baking mood.!! :). Will certainly need to try these. Thanks for sharing.

[Sandi]

Thanks for that great recipe, FYI 20% of the worlds cranberries are grown just across the Fraser River from me here in the lower mainland of Vancouver! Love those tart berries.

[Tammy]

Oh my goodness thank you a million times over...I can now do your recipe....USA measurements....I look forward to making these and eating them...lol..thank you so much Bronywyn.

[Bronwyn...]

Thank you everyone! I must say they were very delicious, especially when they were still a little warm. Can't believe Sandi that 20%!!! of the world's cranberries are grown near you.

[Lib]

Shortbread and cranberries, two of my favorites. I will definitely be making these this year! Thank you, you are a ★

[Brenda]

Will definitely try those.

[Cyndy]

Yummm. I so enjoy your blog. I go onto it everyday and truly enjoy everything you do. But these look wonderful!