Baked Sunday Mornings: Classic Shortbread with Fleur de Sel

A POUND OF BUTTER CLASSIC SHORTBREAD

 There are times that a dream about baking butter cookies for their simple pleasures.  Hubby is from Pennsylvania and craves sand tarts, I enjoy baking rolling, cutting, and decorating sugar cookies made with lots of butter with my grandkiddies, and sometimes I bake chocolate butter cookies.  I love shortbread cookies with a layer of caramel similar to the soft caramel we recently made and maybe covered in chocolate, and sometimes I add finely chopped nuts...these buttery cookies are so versatile and truly say Christmas.

3 of my grandchildren have invited Hubby and I to a talent show at their house New Year’s evening.  They sing, play instruments, have art work, and love to perform and show off.  Their Frolicking Night Owl mom is providing a hot chocolate bar with lots of wonderful mix-ins (including homemade marshmallows, lots of candies, and real whipped cream), and I will bring something to dunk into that delicious, hot, sipping dark chocolate, possibly my shortbread cookies.

These cookies are, however, not really made for dunking.  They have a tender, flaky crumb and are a bit fragile.  I dipped several in dark chocolate and added sprinkles, crushed candy canes, or broken-up whoppers (in honor of all the malt we use in Baked recipes).  But I had to be very careful; I admit to breaking a few.  (We needed something to taste.)

Today’s Classic Shortbread cookies are beautiful, fill the house with their buttery aroma, and taste delicious, but they would not be a good choice to mail as many shortbread cookies are.

EVEN BETTER DIPPED IN DARK CHOCOLATE WITH SEASONAL SPRINKLES

These cookies are similar to a recipe I usually bake for my shortbreads, however today’s recipe adds egg yolk and rice flour which is different.  My recipe has no egg and calls for a little corn starch.  I enjoy these cookies with cirtus zests, but chose to go more plain today (I did add vanilla) hoping for a cookie that would pair well with the hot chocolate bar.

Anyway, what a great way to begin the new year!  Time with family, continuing the eating season, and relaxing before getting into my busiest office time of year (year end paperwork and then taxes...UCK!).

Can’t wait to see what you have done with your cookies...I enjoy all your ideas.

Happy New Year to each of you.  Hope you all have a terrific New Year!!!