It’s ten days to Christmas and I have finally baked my first Christmas cookie.

I know, I know…what is wrong with me? I have a lot of excuses for not baking – would you like to hear them?

  • there’s no snow on the ground and it feels like October
  • my tree has been up since mid November (thanks to my daughter) so that ‘holiday’ spirit has been around too long
  • I’m in the middle of writing a book that is the complete opposite of all things holiday
  • my husband and I have been separated for 2 months and it’s been an emotional rollercoaster of a ride
  • I’m really trying to eat healthy and have been trying to not introduce all this sugary goodness

See – I have a lot of excuses for not baking. It was my mom however who prodded me to start – whether she intended to or not. I’m headed down to their ‘summer trailer’ in Florida next month for a long visit and she asked me to bring some Christmas baking. At first I laughed – in a household of 3 teenage girls, baking NEVER lasts long, but then I started thinking…if I made it the week I leave, I should have ‘some’ to share, right? (sorry Mom, I doubt any will make it…)

Whipped Shortbread Cookies
Recipe Type: Christmas Cookies
Author: Steena
There’s nothing quite like whipped shortbread – it literally melts in your mouth!
Ingredients
  • 1 c. softened butter
  • 1 1/2 c flour
  • 1/2 c icing sugar (confection sugar)
Instructions
  1. Heat oven to 350.
  2. Combine all the ingredients until light and fluffy – mix for about 10 min (feel free to go longer).
  3. Drop by spoonful onto pan.
  4. Bake for 15-20 min
  5. add sprinkles, confetti, sugar onto the top or just leave them plain. Either way, they are delicious

Which got me thinking about cookies and Christmas and all the things I love about baking during the holidays and so OF COURSE I had to make shortbread cookies.
By the time the second tray of cookies were in the oven, I’d eaten probably half of the first tray.

Now, I have a tip that I want to reiterate. Let these babies whip for a long time. I know, I know, it’s hard, but the minimum you should whip these are ten minutes. 10 min. Or longer. But not shorter. Trust me on this…

I’ve a look at the shortbread mixture whipping on Instagram. Take a look.

So much for not wanting to eat a lot of sugar this holiday. Next up – my awesome candy cane cookies!