Advent Calendar - Christmas Cookies

Did your family or ancestors make Christmas Cookies? How did you help? Did you have a favorite cookie?

I don't recall that my grandmother made any cookies especially for Christmas, but my mother has always made shortbread.  As I was growing up I seem to recall that the shortbread was mainly at Christmas, but nowadays Mum makes it all year.  She still uses the same recipe she used when I was little.

Here is her recipe:

Ingredients:        Butter – 8 ozs (250 gms)

                          Plain Flour – 10½ ozs (330 gms)

                          Icing Sugar – 3½ ozs (110 gms)

                          Cornflour – 2 ozs (65 gms)

                          Vanilla – ½ tsp (a dribble!)

                          Salt        - pinch (optional)

Method:  Cream butter and sugar.  Add vanilla.  Work flours in until a pliable paste.  Flatten out (do NOT roll) to 3/8" (1cm) thickness.  Cut into pieces and bake in a moderate oven (180⁰) for 20 – 25 minutes.

Note:  To make good shortbread you must knead the dough till it comes clean from your hands.

It is beautiful shortbread!  Mum often gives it as a gift to friends and relations.

shortbread

I have used the same recipe to make shortbread at Christmas time, and intend doing so again this year to give some to our neighbours.