Stained Glass Window Shortbread Cookies

These Stained Glass Window Shortbread Cookies are a classic Christmas Cookie Recipe featuring candied cherries and ground almonds. Make the dough ahead then slice and bake when ready!

One of my favourite things about Christmas is all the baking.  Not just because they are delicious either but because they make the house smell so good! 

We usually make a mix of traditional family recipe cookies and desserts as well as a a few experiments with new recipes.  This typically includes a couple different shortbread recipes, mincemeat tarts,  some basically unpalatable strawberry gelatin coconut cookies my dad loves, fudge, peanut brittle and of course the ever present famous English trifle. 

Sometimes there is even Christmas pudding and custard! 

Of course a lot of that baking can be done ahead of time and frozen for the big day!  

This shortbread cookies recipe is a family classic that traces back at least as far as my Great- Grandmother in England.  Nobody seems quite sure how far back the recipe originates but its safe to say that it is tried, tested and true as well as being one of my most favourite Christmas cookies!

The soft buttery flavour of the shortbread is divine but the candied cherries and ground almonds really add a different dimension to this cookie.

This recipe features Gay Lea Butter which I keep stocked in my freezer for both baking and other everyday uses.  I trust Gay Lea  enough to stock up on their butter because they use only pure and preservative-free cream from 100% Canadian milk produced by Gay Lea’s 1,200 local dairy farmers. 

Stained Glass Window Shortbread Cookies

Ingredients:

1 Cup Gay Lea Butter, Softened
3/4 Cup Brown Sugar
1/2 tsp Vanilla Extract
1/8 tsp salt, Sifted
2 1/2 Cups Flour, Sifted
1 Cup Almonds, Finely Chopped
1 Cup Candied Cherries, Chopped roughly

Directions:

Cream Butter and Sugar together then add vanilla. 

Slowly beat in flour and salt until fully incorporated.

Add nuts and cherries and mix until combined.

Remove dough from mixing bowl to a flat surface.

Form two even ballsof dough and roll each into a long squared log.

Roll the logs into wax paper and refrigerate overnight.

Preheat Oven to 375 degrees F.

Slice logs into slices about 1/4 inch thick.

Bake on cookie sheets for 8 minutes.

Cool slightly on baking sheet before removing to cooling racks.

*Tip:  You can tell cookies are done when they lose the shine.

 *Tip: Store in air-tight freezer bags for up to 3 months (in the freezer).

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Stained Glass Window Shortbread Cookies

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Ingredients

• 1 Cup Butter, Softened
• 3/4 Cup Brown Sugar
• 1/2 tsp Vanilla Extract
• 1/8 tsp salt, Sifted
• 2 1/2 Cups Flour, Sifted
• 1 Cup Almonds, Finely Chopped
• 1 Cup Candied Cherries, Chopped roughly

Instructions

1. Cream Butter and Sugar together then add vanilla.
2. Slowly beat in flour and salt until fully incorporated.
3. Add nuts and cherries and mix until combined.
4. Remove dough from mixing bowl to a flat surface.
5. Form two even ballsof dough and roll each into a long squared log.
6. Roll the logs into wax paper and refrigerate overnight.
7. Preheat Oven to 375 degrees F.
8. Slice logs into slices about 1/4 inch thick.
9. Bake on cookie sheets for 8 minutes.
10. Cool slightly on baking sheet before removing to cooling racks.

Notes

*Tip: You can tell cookies are done when they lose the shine.
*Tip: Store in air-tight freezer bags for up to 3 months (in the freezer).

Nutrition Information:

Serving Size:

1 grams
Amount Per Serving: Unsaturated Fat: 0g

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Disclosure: I am part of the Gay Lea Ambassador Campaign with Mom Central Canada and I receive special perks as part of my affiliation with Mom Central Canada and this group. The opinions on this blog are my own.