December 26, 2010

Aspiring Bakers#2: Christmas! (Dec 2010) - Cranberry Shortbreads



Few days before chirstmas, on 20 Dec 2010, my attempt to bake a oatmeal-cranberry cookie failed after I realised the oats had expired only after I mixed it into the butter-sugar batter. The next few days were christmas gatherings and I knew I would not have the time to do another baking. All thanks to my stubborn-ness, I told myself I must bake cookies for christmas this year, for it has not failed me all these years. :P

I wake myself extra early on one of the morning, prepared the cookie dough, and chill it in the fride in advance. After getting home that night, I made these cookies, with the dough prepared in advance, and finished it around 1am. Only then could I go to bed, satisfied. :)

This recipe was adapted from a recent cookie book I got - The Australian Women's Weekly:Cookies. It as a plain shortbread designd like a button but I added cranberries to the shortbread dough and cut out using cookie cutters. The red cranberries added gave a plain cookie a christmas-y feel. Love the colour contrast when added to the dough.

I'm submitting this to Aspiring Bakers#2: Christmas hosted by Passionate About Baking. Do hop over to her blog to see other interesting christmas baking/cooking postings!

Cranberry Shortbread

Ingredients:

250g butter
75g caster sugar
35g rice flour
335g plain flour
120g cranberries, diced and chopped finely


Method:

  1. Preheat oven to 180°C.
  2. Line oven trays with baking paper.
  3. Beat butter and sugar with electric beater until smooth. Stir in sifted flours. Add cranberries and knead to form a smooth dough.
  4. Divide dough into two portions and chill dough in the fridge for about 1 hour, until firm.
  5. Roll dough to about 3mm thickness (you can use the thicker end of two chopsticks as a guide).
  6. Cut out your desired shapes with a cookie cutter.
  7. Bake for about 12 minutes in the preheated oven (my cookie is about 4-5-cm, if your cookie is bigger, you have to increase the baking time. When cookie is slightly browned, it is ready).
  8. Remove from oven to cool on a wire rack.

Adapted From: The Australian Women's Weekly: Cookies

9 comments:

Kitchen Corner said...

Happy Xmas to you too! It's a bit late for Xmas but I still can wish you Happy 2011. Have a blessed year ahead!!

Anonymous said...

Hi, is it possible to substitute the rice flour to plain flour instead? Many thanks, sherline

Jean said...

ahh i like the different cookie moulds u use for the shortbread, they're so cute!

daphne said...

for sure they are perfect for Christmas!

Small Small Baker said...

Wishing you and your family a great year in 2011. Happy New year!

Anonymous said...

These look delicious and very cute too! Happy new year to u !

Jo said...

Delicious cran cookies and would love to give this recipe a try. Here's wishing you the best for 2011.

faithy said...

These looks yummy and pretty!

Aimei said...

Thanks faithy! Your wedding cookies are more amazing!