Christmas Shortbread

It is in the last week of the teaching term that gifts start to arrive in your pigeon hole at work. Books, chocolates and even the occasional bottle of wine.

I normally head off to the supermarket and buy lots of chocolates and attach them to Christmas Cards. Well, we are not organised enough to do the Christmas card nice and early this year, so I decided to have a "what would Martha do" moment and make shortbread for my friends at work.

Shortbread Recipe

8oz Salted Butter room temperature
8oz plain flour
4oz Castor sugar
4oz Cornflour or Rice Flour

1. Cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
2. Gradually add flour and cornflour until all is combined.
3. Turn out onto a lined baking tray and try not to handle the dough too much. I tend to put a sheet of baking paper between my hands and the dough. You can also use the back of a large spoon to press into your tray.
   
4. Press into tin gently and then prick with fork before putting in an oven of 180 degrees for about 10-15 minutes.
   
5. Cook until lightly golden, the edges can be a bit darker.
6. Once out of the oven, sprinkle with Castor Sugar and slice or punch into shapes while it is still hot.
7. Let sit for 10 minutes and then lift onto cooling rack.
8. Eat piece of shortbread with a nice cup of tea!
   

Shortbread Tags

I don't profess to being a graphic designer, but this is my meager effort at doing something creative with paper ...

You can fit upto 9 tags per A4 sheet. Wrap four pieces of shortbread in celophane or baking paper. Wrap with ribbon and apply tag.

enjoy!