Monday, December 6, 2010

my latest holiday crush

Shortbread has always been a holiday tradition here at the manor. Maybe it's because both WT and I descend from the Scottish Lowlands, that we like it so much. Despite the fact that shortbread was prepared during much of the 12th century, the refinement of shortbread was actually accredited to Mary, Queen of Scots, in the 16th century. The name of one of the most famous and most traditional forms of shortbread, petticoat tails, were named by Queen Mary.

My traditional homemade shortbread is baked in a round pan and cut into wedges. This year, I tried a delicious new shortbread recipe posted by the charming Kary, over at My Farmhouse Kitchen, which is formed into logs and slicedIt was a huge hit at Thanksgiving, and I'm making a triple batch for Christmas, as well.  The cranberries and walnuts add the perfect blend of textures and flavors, and it's super easy to make.

I store them in my latest Goodwill find, a vintage etched glass lidded dish I found for $4.99.  A steal!


Cranberry Walnut Shortbread Cookies

1 cup unsalted butter, softened
3/4 cup confectioner's sugar
1 teaspoon pure vanilla
2 cups all purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup chopped dried cranberries
1/2 cup chopped walnuts

1. Beat butter, confectioner's sugar and vanilla until smooth. Add flour and salt, stir till just combined. Stir in dried cranberries and walnuts. Divide dough into half.
2. On parchment or waxed paper, shape each portion into a log and wrap. Chill 1 hour or up to 1 day.
3. Preheat oven to 325 degrees. With a sharp knife slice dough into 1/4 inch slices.
4. Place on a parchment lined cookie sheet and bake about 16 minutes. Let cookies cool on sheets and transfer to wire racks. Store in an airtight cookie tin. Makes about 3 dozen.

84 comments:

  1. Mmmm they do look very yummy indeed! The cranberries give them that christmassy look. Delicioso!

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  2. You are right Willow, there are few things nicer than shortbread : a Christmas deal indeed.

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  3. I also love shortbread. This looks like a great recipe. I'll try it for Christmas.
    Blessings, Star

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  4. willow i was eyeing up some shortbread just yesterday. there was a ladies' baking night here just three days ago. the results are all in storage but easy to find, easy to see, probably even easy to take but i've been told not to! oh man. i love shortbread so badly! steven

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  5. I shall certainly give these a go; minus the walnuts. I love walnuts but not in biscuits.

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  6. I like a simple uncluttered recipe, and cranberries in shortcake sound delicious! Thanks for posting..

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  7. Funnily enough, I was looking at shortbread recipes yesterday - didn't actually make anything . . . ;-)

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  8. A huge lover of traditional shortbread, will have to give this recipe a go as I've never had any with cranberries and walnuts in it. Sounds yummy!

    Now I just need to find an etched glass bowl for $4.99 and I'm set.

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  9. Willow,

    My husband and I watched Intimate Strangers yesterday and you were right, it is a "classy, intimate little film." Very French, as only the French can do it. Just a series of quiet conversations but so witty and fun to watch and listen to. Thank you for your recommendation.

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  10. Mind your waistline, they sound too delicious for words.

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  11. Wonderful! I love shortbread. And cranberries and walnuts. And tea.

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  12. jotted this down. wonder if one can use fresh cranberries???? lovely.

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  13. Suki, I wouldn't recommend fresh cranberries. I would imagine they would make the dough a bit too squishy. Give them a try with the dried, though! They're wonderful.

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  14. Maria, glad to hear you enjoyed the film. I always wonder if anyone ever looks at "manor macro". Nice to know they do!

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  15. Steven, you are so good. Between you and me, I don't think one little shortbread would be missed. (tempt-tempt) :)

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  16. yummy! I am going to try those--Mr Jackson loves shortbread!! thanks willow

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  17. Yummmm...thanks for the recipe Willow.

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  18. My mouth is watering! I have always made my shortbread using Provence (culinary) lavender buds and lemon zest. Once cooled I drizzle them with a lemon sauce. Your recipe sounds better. Thanks for sharing.

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  19. Wow... this sounds yummy! I'm definitely trying it. I love shortbread cookies & these have an extra treat cooked in. I'm heading to the grocery store NOW.

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  20. Willow... THANKS for the receipe!
    I will start making them a Christmas tradition! :) The Bach
    Lord Thomas of Wellington

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  21. Well, once again you've inspired me to turn all stalker & try to track down the manor :) Those look delicious!

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  22. I made Kary's shortbreat cookies for Thanksgiving, and they were a big hit with the family. I love the picture you took of them.

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  23. I love shortbread, too. I will try these, they look wonderful!!!

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  24. If I ever get back in the kitchen again I'll have to try this.

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  25. Big shorbread lover, though my husband and daughter are not big fans, can't imagine why.
    I've never tried to make it myself. Never even occurred to me for some reason. Cranberry and walnut additions sound good. Would love to see your $4.99 find!

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  26. Oh my, these look most divine. I must and will make some;)

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  27. Yummy. I love shortbread. I might just try making these.

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  28. Very tempting. May have to give these a go though I usually confine myself to easy things like pumpkin bread around the Holidays, but these look really good.

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  29. Hedgewitch, this recipe is surprisingly simple. You should give them a whirl!

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  30. I too am partial to shortbread being descended from Scottish ancestors, one of whom was a servant of King James II and something to do with the wine trade. He met his end in Edinburgh where he froze to death.

    Once again, a brief visit to Willow Manor has helped me to forget the cares of the world.

    Not for nothing have I made this my Blog of the Century.

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  31. RAD Hunde, what a terrible demise, the freezing of your ancestor. Too bad it wasn't prevented by some warm shortbread. Your visits to the manor are always most pleasurable.

    Blog of the Century?? I blush.

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  32. So many blogs are like so many other blogs, but no blog is like yours.

    I rather like making shortbread, because it takes time.

    I hate to rush anything.

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  33. Thank you Willow for the lovely recipe! I have added that to my list of Christmas culinary chores! Individual little mince pies (not tarts!) are also on the list. Gotta have those to make a Christmas Eve wish on the first bite! And I won't forget the brandy butter which melts on the warmed little pie. The list goes on! We get all English at this time of the year in our house.

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  34. Dear Willow, The addition of Cranberries certainly lifts the humble shortbread bicuit to new festive heights. They look absolutely wonderful in your glass dish and remind me of Lyons Corner Houses of years gone by where waitresses were called 'nippies', tea was served in china cups and the cakes and biscuits were delicious.Ahhhhhh

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  35. Sounds great! I may substitute pecans for the walnuts, just because.

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  36. Vicki, they'd be wonderful with pecans, as well. I'm just a walnut kinda girl, myself.

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  37. Tess I can't make these, no way will I have these in the house ....I am so undisciplined that I would sit and eat until the container was empty and then lick my finger and wipe in around to get all the crumbs ...I just wouldn't be able to stop myself, my very worst manners would take over. It's all I can do to stop myself from licking the screen when I look at the photo of your beautiful shortbread!

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  38. I haven't had time to visit for ages and have just had a good catch-up - so enjoyable and I especially loved hearing you read your poems.

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  39. Tess -- Love your shot of the shortbread. I have never had shortbread but I am now tempted to make some. Copied your recipe down and just perhaps if I am in a baking mood will try it. I love to eat baked goods -- I've just never been much of a baker. But I'm trying to change that.

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  40. Dear Tess,

    Thanks so much for your visit to my blog today and you are following too. Thanks so much for that as well.

    I love shortbread and am already gathering ingredient to make a luscious batch. Your picture makes me hungry to start right away.

    Annie

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  41. These cookies bring together all that is good in a cookie. Can't wait to taste them (thought the beautiful photo is giving me a glimpse!)

    Thanks for sharing!

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  42. Yum, yum, yum! I can hardly wait to try these, sit down with tea, and read and listen to your POEMS!
    I really love hearing you read them!

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  43. Love shortbread, learned from my Russian grandmother, who loved tea and Lorna Doones every afternoon! Can't wait to make this recipe..

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  44. That sounds so easy to make! I LOVE shortbread; I think I'll try this one. :-)

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  45. Shortbread was something I ate a lot, growing up in England, sprinkled with sugar. mmmmmmmm. :-)

    And of course, at Christmas it always came in fancy tins from Scotland.

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  46. Marilyn, alas, I'm afraid to say I ate at least half of them, myself. They are small, though. Guilt in small amounts.

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  47. Shortbread, aye lassie! :) Checking in from Edinburgh for a moment, where there's no shortage of shortbread!

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  48. We have ladies that come to our Library that do hook crafts that bring cookies each time they reserve our meeting room...this is the cookie they brought last week...they are divine! We call the cookies they bring each week: the hooker cookies...:-)

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  49. That's a pretty picture, Willow. I shall share this with my daughter in the hope she will be inspired. Otherwise I shall have to roll up my sleeves and get inspired myself. It looks just delicious. And so beautifully plated, too.

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  50. They look so good that I printed them out. Made
    some buttercookies yesterday a disaster... gotta try something new....::::) Thank you!

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  51. These are looking very good. I might need some in my cupboard!

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  52. Willow, I was so hoping to see you at the Christmas Tea hosted by Mr. Toast yesterday. You were missed, I will tell you. People kept calling out your name.
    It was a wonderful time! xxoo

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  53. Terresa, you are ever the dedicated blogger! Safe travels, Lassie!

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  54. Oh, Tess, these sound delicious! You know, just seeing this photo made me tear up: it's always been tradition in our family that one of us would bring shortbread for my mom for Christmas. She'd lived in Scotland as a little girl, and my grandparents were from Scotland. After my mother died, we ALL came together for that first Christmas without her, and each one of us had brought some under our arms--we all smiled that we hadn't even communicated with each other, but it must mean that she was with us in spirit...we still bring it every year.

    I think this year, I'm going to make this--thank you!! xo

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  55. shortbread is my favorite christmas cookie as well- can't wait to try this recipe.

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  56. I'm going to try this recipe. Shortbread cookies are my absolute favorite kind of cookie...they even trump chocolate chip cookies.

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  57. Oh, Stevie, they win out over chocolate chip in my book, too! Hands down!

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  58. Sue, that's such a sweet story. I will think of it the next time I make these.

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  59. You have to share some with me. I almost ate my screen.

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  60. We are, obviously, very big on shortbread here. Looks delicious!
    Do you have shortbread prickers?

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  61. Titus, shortbread prickers? Now that sounds very professional! No, I just use a fork. ;^)

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  62. All I can say to this is YUM YUM YUM!!!
    I'm baking walnut/choc chip/oatmeal
    delights later today

    oxox

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  63. I LOVE shortbread and I LOVE cranberries. Will most certainly give this a try.

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  64. Hello Tess,

    I've just enjoyed two wonderful poems about slippers and spitting(!), admired 'your' new antlers and topped it all off with a cookie. I'm very tempted to make a batch myself!

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  65. Oh, to have one, or two,
    with my tea, now .... ;-)

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  66. How I love shortbread cookies...and cranberries...and walnuts...and the ease of refrigerator cookies...so i am definitely making these....Thanks! and I will have to go and thank Kary!

    I also love your photo...lovely!

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  67. Major Y U M ... ... .
    perhaps even enough for this
    non-cook to bring out the
    mixing bowl.

    judith

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  68. love shortbread,
    I will try this version, thank you.

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  69. I rarely indulge in butter except for holiday treats like this. Looks wonderful.

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  70. Sounds Sinfully good. I am looking forward to trying this recipe for Christmas. Thanks for sharing and I am really glad I stopped by!!!

    Wysteria

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  71. Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.
    Holiday cookies are simply the best.

    Allow me to share my favourite holiday cookie:
    http://www.food.com/recipe/lennies-special-shortbread-14059

    I have been making these cookies for (cough!!) .... well .... let's just say for many, many years. Okay? Yes, THAT long. And it wouldn't be Christmas at our house without them!
    ==lennie==

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  72. Thank you, Lennie! I'll pop over and take a look...

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  73. Willow,
    I like walnuts!
    rel

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  74. Love cranberries and walnuts and shortbread is a Christmas must! This recipe is definitely on my to do list. Thanks Willow!

    Jeanne
    x

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  75. Rel, somehow, I knew you would!

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  76. I love shortbread too and am always looking for a good recipe. Thank you for adding one more to the collection! ; )

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  77. ooohhh...i have been gone and just saw this...i am so HAPPY that you made them...and that you LIKED them...YES!!! they are so good...love the cranberries and walnuts too...so christmas-ey.

    sa HAPPY to stop by for a visit here today, my friend,

    sending december love,
    kary and teddy
    xxx

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  78. Willow, I've already made your cut-out sugar cookies AND your ginger cookies this year. I will probably make these too, because I cannot resist a Christmas cookie . . . and I give them out as gifts all through the season.

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  79. My husband and I probably hail from the same area because we also love shortbread.This image is making my mouth water.

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  80. Tess should this be ONE cup of flour??? I made it according to your measures, fridged it overnight, and the stuff would not slice, too crumbly. Not sure if I can rescue??? One cup butter = two sticks which is what i used. hmmm

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  81. Suki, it's one cup of butter (two sticks) and 2 cups of flour, with 3/4 cup powdered sugar. Gosh, sorry it didn't work for you. :(

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Inject a few raisins of conversation into the tasteless dough of existence.
― O. Henry (and me)