Holiday Baking Tradition

Many family traditions take place during the Holiday season, for my family it is baking special holiday treats. One treat in particular is my great grandmother’s shortbread cookies.

​​As a child I used to help my mom roll out the cookie dough and cut out festive shapes with a cookie cutter. Once they came out of the oven and cooled, we would roll them in sugar, which made them look very sparkly and festive!

My mom always did her Holiday baking early so there would be one less thing she would have to worry about over the hustle and bustle of the season. This was the ‘not so fun’ part, she would freeze the cookies and we were NOT allowed to eat any until Christmas! Just knowing they were there, inside the freezer waiting to be devoured, made it extra tempting.

---

I remember when I was a little bit older and took the bus home from school, I would get home before my parents did from work, and I would sneak one or two cookies here and there. I am sure they always knew about it- in fact, they probably did the same haha! Once Christmas time hit, there were always a “few” less cookies then we started with.

I have never had a Christmas without these shortbread cookies, my great grandmother baked them with my Nana, my Nana baked them with my mom, and my mom baked them with my sister and I. Now as an adult I have continued this tradition with my two boys and I hope that when they are older, they continue this tradition with their families as well.

---

Here is the recipe:
 
Granana Mary's Shortbread Cookies

• Preheat oven to 325
• 2 cups Softened Butter
• 1 cup Icing Sugar
• 4 cups All-purpose Flour
• 3 Tbsp Cornstarch
• Pinch of Salt

 
Cream butter and sugar together. In a separate bowl, combine flour, cornstarch, and salt. Sift the dry ingredients into the butter and sugar little by little.

Sprinkle some flour on the counter and put a bit on the rolling pin and begin to roll out the dough. Try not to knead the dough too much, as it will become tough. Use cookie cutter shapes of your choosing.

---

Bake for 10-15 minutes (ovens may vary).

In a food processor, blend some white sugar slightly so it is still a bit grainy but finer and more powdery than usual.

Once the cookies have cooled, roll them into the sugar until both sides are covered and they shimmer in the light.

---

If they are made right, the cookies will literally melt in your mouth with an abundance of sweet and salty flavours!

​Enjoy with a cup of tea or hot chocolate!

---

Many family traditions take place during the Holiday season, for my family it is baking special holiday treats. One treat in particular is my great grandmother’s shortbread cookies.

As a child I used to help my mom roll out the cookie dough and cut out festive shapes with a cookie cutter. Once they came out of the oven and cooled, we would roll them in sugar, which made them look very sparkly and festive!

My mom always did her Holiday baking early so there would be one less thing she would have to worry about over the hustle and bustle of the season. This was the ‘not so fun’ part, she would freeze the cookies and we were NOT allowed to eat any until Christmas! Just knowing they were there, inside the freezer waiting to be devoured, made it extra tempting.

I remember when I was a little bit older and took the bus home from school, I would get home before my parents did from work, and I would sneak one or two cookies here and there. I am sure they always knew about it- in fact, they probably did the same haha! Once Christmas time hit, there were always a “few” less cookies then we started with.

I have never had a Christmas without these shortbread cookies, my great grandmother baked them with my Nana, my Nana baked them with my mom, and my mom baked them with my sister and I. Now as an adult I have continued this tradition with my two boys and I hope that when they are older, they continue this tradition with their families as well.

Here is the recipe:
 
Granana Mary's Shortbread Cookies

• Preheat oven to 325
• 2 cups Softened Butter
• 1 cup Icing Sugar
• 4 cups All-purpose Flour
• 3 Tbsp Cornstarch
• Pinch of Salt

Cream butter and sugar together. In a separate bowl, combine flour, cornstarch, and salt. Sift the dry ingredients into the butter and sugar little by little.

Sprinkle some flour on the counter and put a bit on the rolling pin and begin to roll out the dough. Try not to knead the dough too much, as it will become tough. Use cookie cutter shapes of your choosing.

Bake for 10-15 minutes (ovens may vary)

In a food processor, blend some white sugar slightly so it is still a bit grainy but finer and more powdery than usual.

Once the cookies have cooled, roll them into the sugar until both sides are covered and they shimmer in the light.

​If they are made right, the cookies will literally melt in your mouth with an abundance of sweet and salty flavours!
 
Enjoy with a cup of tea or hot chocolate!