Shortbread Christmas Cookies

These pretty shortbread cookies are delicious all on their own- but topped with a piece of gold-dusted chocolate? Then they are perfect. 

I’d never made shortbread before. Crazy, I know. The inspiration was those AMAZING Starbucks snowmen cookies. You know.. the ones that are soooo cute and topped in chocolate rather than icing?

I was telling a friend about my love for those little Starbucks cookies and she said, “I know! Shortbread cookies are the best!” and I thought to myself…. “Shortbread? What exactly is a shortbread cookie?” So I investigated and tried a few recipes and FELL IN LOVE with these cookies!!!  Buttery and flakey happiness with every bite!

I wanted to add chocolate on top, and found these ADORABLE silicone molds by Silikomart. (and then I got sucked into the world of Silikomart and all the beautiful things they make that are mostly available only in Italy….) I found these on Amazon though. I dusted them with a little bit of edible gold dust to give them an especially elegant feel.

So. Much. Christmas. Fun.

Here’s the recipe: (printable version here)

INGREDIENTS: (makes 24-30 cookies)

• 1 cup unsalted butter (at room temperature)
• 3/4 cup powdered sugar
• 1 tablespoon vanilla
• 2 cups flour
• 1 teaspoons baking powder
• About 16 oz of dark chocolate wafers. You can use Wiltons candy melts, but for these cookies I used Ghirardelli Melting Wafers. They cost more- but they are SO good!
• Edible gold dusting powder (I used this brand)

DIRECTIONS:

• Place butter and sugar into a mixing bowl and using a mixer, beat until light and fluffy (think buttercream frosting…!)
• Add vanilla and mix until well combined.
• Add flour and baking powder to butter/sugar mixture and beat on low speed until incorporated well (don’t over-beat this).
• Use clean hands to form this mixture into a ball. Wrap it in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.

While dough is chilling, make chocolate toppers.

• Melt chocolate wafers in the microwave in 30 second increments, mixing in between until melted and smooth.
• Spoon into a large zip-top bag and seal it well.
• Place mold on a cookie sheet to keep it flat and easy to move.
• Carefully pipe chocolate into molds, filling them up to the top and then tap entire cookie sheet on counter to remove bubbles.
• Freeze for 5-8 minutes until they can be peeled out of the molds. Repeat until you have about 24-30 toppers.
• Squeeze extra chocolate back into a small bowl and set aside.

Set toppers aside, and cut/bake cookies.

• Preheat oven to 350 F degrees.
• Remove dough from refrigerator and roll out on a floured countertop. Cut into rectangles. I used this cookie cutter set and I needed 2 different sizes because the molds are different in size. Place on a cookie sheet that has parchment paper laid on top. 
• Bake at 350F degrees for 10-12 minutes.
• Slide parchment paper (with cookies on top) off baking sheet and onto a clean counter. Cool completely.

Assemble cookies.

• Re-heat the extra chocolate you set aside from earlier, using instructions given earlier for melting.
• Use a knife to spread melted chocolate onto the back of a chocolate topper, and gently place it on top of a cooled cookie. (I used gloves to handle the chocolate so I wouldn’t leave fingerprints on it!)
• Allow topper to harden- sticking it firmly to the top of the cookie.
• Use a food-grade brush to gently brush gold dusting powder over each chocolate piece. You can skip this step– but the wow factor increases A LOT with this touch of gold glitter!!!
• Enjoy!!!!

My thoughts: These are SO (soooooooooooo!) yummy! I keep kicking myself for never making shortbread before this! These are a fragile cut-out cookie. The chocolate on top adds much-needed stability, but be gentle with them before that chocolate is added. They are fragile because they are a light, flaky, buttery piece of heaven- but they are fragile nonetheless. I made these in early November- working ahead for Christmas blogging- but I am definitely making these as one of my Christmas cookies this year- this is a do-not-miss recipe!  Hope you and your family enjoy them as much as I did!!!  ~r

Need Christmas cookie ideas?? We have SO many here!  Here’s a few to get you started: (click on photo to see recipe)