Saturday, December 8, 2012

Chocolate-Cherry Sugar-Crusted Shortbread

I am always looking for a new cookie for a cookie exchange.  I have a few favorites but I am trying some new ones this year.  My family seems to love shortbread and sugar cookies so I decided to give this one a try.  It is very yummy!  Just be delicate in the cutting so you can keep nice squares.  We had a few odd shapes and broken pieces... that we just had nibble on as we were rolling them in sugar!



Chocolate-Cherry Sugar-Crusted Shortbread (from Southern Living)

1 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup powdered sugar
2 1/2 cups flour
1/8 tsp salt
1/4 cup semi sweet mini morsels
1/4 cup chopped dried cherries
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 Tbsp granulated sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar

Beat butter at medium speed until creamy - add powdered sugar, beating well.  Combine flour/salt and add to butter mixture, beating until well blended.  Stir in mini morsels, cherries and vanilla.  Mixture will be crumbly.  Line an 8" square pan with foil, allowing foil to extend over the edges of pan to form handles.  Lightly grease the foil and sprinkle with 1 tablespoon of sugar.  Press dough into pan.  Bake at 325 for 20 minutes or until golden.  Coll 30 minutes or until slightly warm in pan.  Use foil to gently lift shortbread from pan.  Gently cut shortbread into 1" squares using a sharp knife.  Roll shortbread squares in 1/2 sugar - or more if needed.  Yields 64 cookies

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