Runs on Coffee and Cream

I've been baking like crazy over the last couple of weeks. I've made Belgium cookies, sugar cookies, shortbread, peppermint meringues,whipped shortbread, dream bars, and cranberry-almond biscotti! Luckily, we have some visiting to do over the next week so I can bring sweets along with me because there's no way we need to eat all of it!



The whipped shortbread recipe I made was spur of the moment but it turned out really well.

Whipped Shortbread
1 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 cup cornstarch
18 Maraschino cherries, halved and blotted dry

Heat oven to 375 degrees.

Beat butter and sugar in medium bowl for about 5 minutes until light and creamy. (I used my kitchenaid mixer)

Combine flour and cornstarch in small bowl. Add to butter mixture in 2 additions, beating well after each addition until no dry flour remains. Drop using 1 tbsp for each, about 2 inches apart onto ungreased cookie sheet.

Put 1 cherry half in centre of each cookie. Bake for 12 minutes until edges are just golden. Let stand on cookie sheet for 5 minutes before removing to wire racks to cool.

 
These cookies are so yummy! They melt in your mouth and I think they look so cute with a cherry in the
centre!


Sugar Cookies

 
By far, belgium cookies (or empire cookies) are my favourite Christmas cookie!


We made peppermint meringues which taste like candy. I've never made meringues before but I will definitely try them again with a different flavour.


Sorry for the dark photo, since meringues take 3 hours to bake, it was dark by the time they came out of the oven.

I still plan on making mint nanaimo bars, chocolate macaroons, and gingerbread whoopie pies... our freezer is going to be full!

Have a good night!
xo Jen