Irish Butter Shortbread Cookies with Real Irish Butter!

Typically, shortbread cookies are served at Christmas and for some even New Years. Other countries eat them all year long. 

Shortbread cookies, according to Wikipedia, originated in Scotland with the first printed recipe as early as 1736 from a Mrs. Mclintock.

What makes it a shortbread cookie is the ratio of one part butter, two parts sugar and three parts flour. Not only that but the butter you use makes a huge difference too. Irish butter is richer in fat. Making these a tasty buttery cookie that is light and sweet. 

The traditional shortbread cookie is made into one of three shapes. A circle, individual biscuits, or an oblong slab. 

Today we'll be making the traditional round or circle shaped butter cookie. One because it is easiest to do and two because I like the smaller size cookies. Slabs and biscuits are nice too but not as much my style. 

Ingredients:

1 cup or 2 sticks real Irish unsalted butter

room temperature

1/2 cup plus 1 T sugar

2-1/2 cups all-purpose flour

More flour for the working surface.

Directions:

Now according to most professional chefs, correctly creaming your butter and sugar together can be a real challenge and affect how your recipe turns out. 

 Preheat oven to 300 degrees F. 

Pre-line two baking sheets with parchment paper and set them aside. 

Cream together room temperature butter cut into cubes and sugar with an electric mixer and paddle attachment. 

After fully blended, put the mixer on low and slowly add the flour little by little. 

Continue mixing until it begins to form a dough ball. 

Transfer dough to a lightly floured surface and roll it out to about 1/4" thickness. Make sure to dust your rolling pin with a tab bit of flour as well. 

Cut the dough using a cookie cutter or my favorite a small cup. They can also be cut into different shapes like little shamrocks or fancy squares. 

Transfer to cookie sheet about an inch apart. Gather all leftover dough, reshape into a ball and repeat the process. 

Before careful to not overwork your dough. Bake around 25-30 minutes or until they just start to turn golden brown. 

Remove to rack for cooling. Makes 3-4 dozen cookies. 

*Note* Real Irish butter, I prefer the Kellygold kind can be found at many of your local markets and or grocery stores. Search the website here for a store in your area. 

These are also great dyed a pretty green for St. Paddy's Day. Add the green food coloring when you are creaming together the butter and sugar. 

Must See Sugar Cookie Recipe!!

"This is a must see sugar cookie recipe!!" 

I have finally stumbled upon the ultimate sugar cookie recipe. Well, unless you are one of those big batch bakers!! However, if you are like me and every year you absolutely dread making them. Like I'd rather chew my own arm off then spend hours in the kitchen cutting, and baking, and frosting all those cookies. Especially if you made the mistake and doubled or even tripled the recipe. 

Ha, Ha!! Not this year! I found the holy grail of sugar cookie recipes, to me at least. And before I continue I do have a confession to make...."I did it, I tripled this recipe when I made it! I know, I know!!"  

How could I, right? After just talking smack about all those crazy bakers! And in my defense, I'd say to you that once you see how small this recipe really is, you'll understand why I broke the code. 

So this recipe for sugar cookies makes only...are you ready for this? SIX. Yes, you read that correctly, just six little ole cookies. My heart danced, my spirit sang when I first saw this glorious recipe!! You mean I won't be in the kitchen all night, til early morning baking and frosting?? Oh, life is so grand! 

Now you can understand why I tripled the recipe. Having kids in the house and trying to get by with making just six cookies? Ha! You'd be asking for trouble there!! So I was smart and made about 18 instead. 

The best part is that only takes two oven rounds and about a half hour in frosting them. BOOM! I no longer dread making these lovely cookies I enjoy so much. 

Ingredients

Cookies

• 1/4 cup cold unsalted butter, cut into cubes.
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 1 egg yolk, from a large egg. 
• 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
• 2/3 cup flour
• 1/8 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp baking powder

Frosting:

• 3 Tbsp cold salted butter, cut into cubes. 
• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 1/4 tsp vanilla extract
• 2-3 tsp milk
• assorted sprinkles (your choice)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. 
2. Measure and cut butter into cubes. Add sugar, egg, and vanilla. 
3. Mix together with a hand mixer or kitchen mixer until smooth. 
4. In a small bowl whisk together the flour, salt, and baking powder. 
5. Using a mixer on low speed, slowly add the flour mixture to the wet. 
6. Stir together until it starts to form a ball of dough. 
7. Remove from bowl, divide dough into six equal pieces, roll into balls, flatten slightly with your palm and place on cookie sheet. 
8. Another method is to roll the dough out as normal and use cookie cutters to cut out the shapes you desire. That is what I choose to do. I like to have fun trees and snowmen. 
9. Bake for 10-12 minutes. Remove from heat and cool before frosting or it will melt off. 

Frosting:

1. Combine butter, cut into cubes. Powered sugar, and vanilla extract together with milk in a small mixing bowl. 
2. Mix together until smooth. The butter will come together as you mix the frosting. Just be patient! 
3. Frost cookie and enjoy!! 

Baked Oatmeal Cookies and fun for kids before school starts!

Baked Oatmeal Cookies

One of the family's favorites and super fun to make with the kids. I like to do mine without raisins and instead I add m&m's. 

Ingredients 

6 cups quick cooking oats

1 1/2 cups milk

4 eggs, lightly beaten

2/3 cup chunky applesauce

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/3 cup butter

1/4 cup white sugar

1 Tbsp baking powder

1 1/2 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp vanilla extract

Directions

Prep time: 10 minutes

Cook time: 20-30 minutes

Ready in about 30-60 minutes

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.

Mix oats, milk, eggs, applesauce, brown sugar, butter, white sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, and vanilla extract together in a bowl until oats are evenly moistened; pour into prepared baking dish. 

Bake in the preheated oven until set and just golden brown, 20 to 30 minutes.

Super easy and a great way to spend some time with the kids before they go back to school.

Famous Oatmeal Cookies

These Oatmeal Cookies also known as "Cowboy Cookies" are not only delicious but super easy and quick to make!
** Another great idea is putting all the ingredients into a mason jar with a decorative lid. Great for wedding favors or cowboy/ cowgirl birthday parties. 

Let's start with the ingredients.

Ingredients

• 1 cup butter, softened
• 1 cup white sugar
• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 3 cups quick cooking oats

First, you want to cream together the butter and sugars. Once creamed together add the eggs, vanilla, salt, cinnamon and mix again. 

Second add any raisins, nuts or chocolate chips and mix together. Plain oatmeal is just as good in my opinion.

Lastly, add the flour. Going slowly and a little at a time to minimize mess. Once mixed add the oatmeal. You may want to mix this by hand with a spoon or mixer may be more difficult.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees, drops cookie dough onto cookie sheet making four rows or more depending on the size of your pan.
Set timer for 10-12 mins or until golden brown.
Remove from oven to parchment paper and Enjoy!

These are one of my families favorites! :)

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