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Baker. Cook. Gardener. Animal Lover.

Monday, November 15, 2010

Cranberry Walnut Shortbread Cookies

got out one of my favorite Christmas decorations yesterday and set it out in my kitchen. isn't he cute?
decided to make some cranberry walnut shortbread cookies late sunday afternoon....

dande has kitty radar when it comes to butter....


oh yummy mama....is that butter with sugar in it? look at that face....



i am really into vanilla lately...always on the lookout for the good stuff. got these 2 bottles the other day...they smell so good i had to dab some on my wrists....see the turkey there on the farm table in the background? that's him !!!




you can make these cookies in a bowl with just a wooden spoon....no mixer needed...





there are only a few ingredients...so everything has to be the best.... i used organic flour from Bob's RED MILL....






after everything is mixed you just roll it into a log in some wax paper...and chill






slice ....








and bake...








i have to tell you...these are REALLY good....











forgot to show you these yesterday...got 'em on my Cost Plus run...a nesting set of teeny tiny silicone bowls...how could i pass these by? they are just too cute in my cupboard...










and how about these for old fashioned? little peppermint puffs from Hammonds Candy Co.
it's 80 degrees here today. how sad is that? kind of makes it hard to bake Christmas cookies and play my Lionel Richie Christmas album. but they say RAIN for friday. i can only hope.


Cranberry Walnut Shortbread Cookies
Makes about 4 dozen
1 cup ( 2 sticks ) unsalted butter, softened
3/4 cup confectioner's sugar, sifted ( i didn't)
1 teaspoon pure vanilla....the BEST you can get
2 cups all purpose flour, sifted ( didn't..again)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup chopped dried cranberries
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
1. Beat butter, confectioner's sugar and vanilla with a wooden spoon until smooth. Add flour and salt, stir till just combined. Stir in dried cranberries and walnuts. Divide dough into quarters.
2. On parchment or waxed paper, shape each portion into a log and wrap. Chill 30 minutes 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 20 to 22 minutes. Let cookies cool on sheets and transfer to wire racks. Store in an airtight cookie tin.










45 comments:

  1. I'm glad the butter-loving kitty got her fair share of the ingredients!

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  2. omg....dande is too cute and what a great pic! i love the santa sign too. i always order hammond's for the holidays. the cookies look great too. i can't believe teddy was left out of this post. he must have been sleeping!

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  3. I'm always looking for new holiday cookie recipes. This sounds wonderful. I'll give it a try. Thanks!

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  4. Oh dear, oh dear, I am MAKing these!! They look wonderful. Homemade shortbread is a big deal at the manor at Christmas. This is a perfect new twist on the tradition. Thanks, Kary! xx

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  5. I am still chuckling. I aDORe the kittie licking his lips. Great snap.... And oh, those cookies look yum-o.

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  6. nice Christmas cookies... and Dande is so sweet... i'm sure if Holly could get up on the counter she would... it's REALLY cold here in the UK tonight... log fire is ON and warming our little feet!

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  7. Fabulous Cranberry Walnut Shortbread recipe. I'll let you know how my turn out for Thanksgiving!

    Brandy with the tongue out, in lick delight, is to cute. I love this picture.

    Thanks for all your sharings!

    xoxo to Teddy Sweet Face Love!

    Blessings and sending love. magnolia

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  8. Well, I love shortbread and cranberries and nuts so this must be good. Hope it cools off for you, Kary. We are having great weather for now. When I stop complaining for a short while that means the weather is in the perfect spot between too hot and too cold.

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  9. These would be great to serve after Thanksgiving dinner with some tasty dessert coffee! Love the new header photo on your blog - so pretty!

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  10. These cookies are right up my alley. Thanks for the recipe! And I think it's fun that you dabbed vanilla on your wrists. There's some great perfumes with vanilla scent. Check out luckyscent.com and search for vanilla. They send samples, too and most are only $3.

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  11. These look and sound so wonderful.

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  12. Your cookies look delightful...and I love cranberries! Bob's Red Mill is only 20 mins or so from my house. It is a fabulous place! I posted about it awhile ago. Here is the link http://cottagecozy.blogspot.com/2010/08/discover-bobs-red-mil.html.

    Teddy is adorable....and Whiskey Sour too! Thanks so much for your visit today. Your home looks so lovely! I signed up to follow your blog as well!

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  13. What a great recipe, I will be trying it for the holidays :) xoxoxo

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  14. Very nice recipe. And, I love the kitty, makes me miss mine!! Thanks for sharing your story of your brother frying the blackbird. My husband and I had a good laugh out of it...because we know it sounds just like our son!

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  15. I knew that you and carrie at cozy cottage would love each other!!!!

    Those cookies look awesome!!!!!

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  16. These sound delicious! And so easy. I think I will have to try this soon. :)

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  17. Its damp and gray in New England today. The cookies look yummy and seem easy to throw together. I had a good laugh at two things on your post. The first was your adorable cat and the second was the vanilla on your wrists. Do remember Granny from the Beverly Hillbillies. She use to dab it on too. I love your posts!!! Susan:)

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  18. Great shot of Dande! And the recipe looks fabulous. I'm going to make it this week.

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  19. I just printed that one out. Sounds really good.

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  20. These cookies sound wonderful! Perfect for the season.

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  21. You know,Kary, I just picked up the happiest vibes reading this post
    You sound so bliss in the moment of baking and sharing all your christmas stuff (love that santa)
    thanks for the recipe too

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  22. Perfect....I think this would be a wonderful holiday gift and treat. I adore shortbread with tea.

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  23. Kary, your cookies look delcious, and I'm sure I've never even noticed little silicone bowls before. So cute.

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  24. I love the ornament! How cute is that! And what a fantastic shot of Mr. Whiskey Sour there! haha

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  25. Oh my gosh! theres so much to love here Kary! first the santa decoration, so so cute! and Dande with her licking her lips is adorable! and i can't wait to make the shortbread. i use only Bob's also and i have that same vanilla obsession. haha. thank you so much for the recipe.
    i wish i could retire. i want to stay home and make and bake (and play with owen). :)
    love,
    lori

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  26. Your cookies look amazing my friend. I can't believe how warm it is down there...wow...hard to get in the Christmas mood.

    Thank you for visiting me the other day...I so love your sweet comments you leave me. Hugs.

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  27. Kary, these cookies sound really good. I am always in the mood for something new. Of course, for a month, I'm on the strictest no fiber/low fiber diet and am really trying to stick to it before the colonoscopy. That means Thanksgiving, I will not be doing any fancy cooking at all.

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  28. Those cookies look yummy. A cup of tea and two cookies, please?

    I so enjoy your blog!

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  29. They look WONDERFUL and so easy to make!! I'll be trying them soon!! It's always so much fun to stop by here! Love to you and Teddy!! Silke

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  30. Glad your cookies don't need a mixer as I don't have one. I love shortbread cookies and can't wait to try these.

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  31. Not to get too redundant but I ask myself again...
    WHY don't we live closer together!!!!?!?!?!
    Dande is a-dorable!

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  32. These look delicious and I'm a big short bread fan. More than thirty years ago, I was wearing vanilla as a scent; the then boyfriend used to call me cookie dough.
    Huh. Hadn't thought about that in years - grin-.

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  33. ~*Im so glad you stopped by my blog today,so I could find your lovely blog!!Im your newest follower~*~I LOVE your little Whiskey Sour btw!! Such a precious photo!! Hugs, Rachel~*~*

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  34. Oh, these look yummy. And what a cute furry helper you have! Thanks for sharing the recipe!

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  35. Love the shortbread recipe, ADORE the vintage Santa w/cocoa! Just made myself a homemade cup w/whipped cream before I sat... Thanks for a cozy visit! I'll try sending you a bit of our grey, cool skies... ;-)
    hugs,
    Leslie

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  36. Another wonderful sounding recipe - shortbread is such a weakness for me...thanks for sharing.
    We are having snowflakes here in the Northwoods. 80 degrees is just a tad to warm for me!
    Have a good weekend and hope your weather cools off...

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  37. I am surprised there are any cookies left, I thought I had gobbled them all up the other night when I sneaked into your kitchen! ;-)

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  38. Of course you need a taste tester! Only the very best kitchens have them! What adorable photos, of an equally heart capturing kitty!

    I've written this yummy recipe down, and will be making some soon. .hopefully tomorrow! I have an ages old shortbread recipe that is a little similar, but with oatmeal and without the cranberries or nuts. My whole family loves them, but personally, I've been wanting to find a good alternative. .I think that I have!

    It is cold and very windy here. .I'll step out and ask it to blow some chills your way too!

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  39. I made these and subbed orange zest and juice for the vanilla. They came out SO tasty!

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  40. I'm a sucker for little ramekins...I have a drawer full of them....and hardly use them...but, there they are if I need them. And...so cute.....sometimes I just use them to break eggs into when I bake...or put amounts of ingredients...instead of pinch bowls....

    Thanks for the recipe.. a must try. I made some eggnog cookies yesterday... much like a shortbread really....

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  41. Oh, that kitty is adorable! ha.

    you didn't sift the flour? haha We must be related. :)

    I'm baking these today! ;) Thank you, dear.

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  42. These look so good! I love the tip of rolling them up, refrigerating and slicing. That would save so much time from drop cookies.

    Happy New Year!!

    Denise @ Creative Kitchen

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Thank you so much for taking the time to stop by. I appreciate all your kind comments more than you can know.