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cranberry shortbread star cookies

December 18, 2017 by Lovoni + 3 Comments

715views
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With Christmas a week away it’s time for some festive baking: beginning with Cranberry Shortbread Star Cookies. Buttery & melt-in-your-mouth, this easy shortbread recipe is one to add to the holiday baking repertoire. It was originally published in this year’s Christmas edition of Donna Hay magazine & as a lover of shortbread, well of course I had to try the recipe for myself…

cranberry shortbread star cookies

cranberry shortbread star cookies

Shortbread is very easy to make & this recipe was no exception. Although I did alter the method slightly: the recipe instructed rolling the dough between parchment paper then placing it into the fridge for 30 minutes. While this might be necessary in my homeland, Australia, it certainly isn’t when you live in Indiana, USA during the winter. 

cranberry shortbread star cookies

I thought it was impractical to expect someone to have space in their fridge for a slab of rolled shortbread dough – especially this time of year. So I tested the recipe chilling half the dough (as per recipe directions) & the other I simply rolled, cut & baked the shortbread – no chilling. There was no difference between the chilled& room temperature doughs. If the dough does appear to be a little soft (mine sure wasn’t), then refrigerate the dough before you roll it. Or skip that step. 

cranberry shortbread star cookies

The Donna Hay recipe didn’t call for dusting the shortbread with sugar either but I think it looks festive. When I make this again, I will brush egg white on the cookies before baking & sprinkle with course sugar. Or for total simplicity, leave them plain. Either way, they taste wonderful. 

cranberry shortbread star cookies

cranberry shortbread star cookies

Enjoy this week leading up to Christmas. Don’t stress, all you have on your list will get done. And if it doesn’t happen – que sera sera. Happy baking, Lovoni xo

cranberry shortbread star cookies

cranberry shortbread star cookies
2017-12-18 08:37:45
Save Recipe
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Ingredients
  1. 6 oz (1 1/2 sticks/170g) butter, softened
  2. 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  3. 1/2 cup confectioner’s (icing) sugar
  4. 1 1/2 cups all purpose (plain) flour
  5. 2 tablespoons cornstarch (cornflour)
  6. 3/4 cup dried cranberries (chopped)
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 325°F (160°C). Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
  2. Beat butter, vanilla & sifted icing sugar into a large bowl of electric mixer. Beat for about 8 minutes or until pale & creamy.
  3. Add sifted flours & cranberries & mix until just combined.
  4. Roll dough between 2 sheets of lightly flour parchment paper until 1/4 inch (4mm) thickness. (if mixture is too soft, shape into a disc & wrap in plastic wrap & chill for 10 minutes before rolling). Using a 3 inch (8cm) star-shape cookie cutter (or whatever shape you choose), cut stars, re-rolling the dough as necessary. Place on baking sheets. Bake for 12 to 14 minutes or until lightly golden brown around the edges. Let stand for 5 minutes until removing to a wire rack to cool completely. Dust with confectioner’s sugar before serving if desired. Makes about 18.
Notes
  1. This recipe can be made a week ahead of time & stored in a well-sealed jar.
By Lovoni
Adapted from Donna Hay magazine Christmas 2017
Adapted from Donna Hay magazine Christmas 2017
Fresh Hunger https://freshhunger.com/

 

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Filed Under: Baking & Desserts, featured, Holidays, popular, Vegetarian Tagged With: christmas, christmas baking, cranberry, shortbread

Comments

  1. kelly says

    December 22, 2019 at 6:53 pm

    These looked beautiful on your website, and think they would have made a nice addition to my cookie tray but the dough was was too crumbly to roll or cut out. Disappointed.

    Reply
    • Lovoni says

      December 23, 2019 at 11:36 am

      I’m sorry you had issues with the dough. As this is a recipe made each festive season by me & others, I know the recipe works. The issues you had might have been: the butter wasn’t softened enough & beaten the required length of time specified in the recipe & until the visual was as mentioned; the ingredients might not have been measured correctly (a common mistake by people). Shortbread is as the name depicts, a short dough because of the amount of butter in it but as you’ll see from the pics, the dough rolls out & cuts beautifully. There will be cracks when rolling as you get with pastry too but the dough is so pliable they get pressed back together. I know this recipe is good so I’m sorry you had issues with it. Sometimes the time of year the wheat was harvested & where it came from will make a difference to a baking recipe too. Exact measurements are important in baking & why I generally like to include the weight of ingredients with baking recipes – something not embraced by North Americans but it’s important. I hope this doesn’t deter you from trying them again or a different recipe. Merry Christmas & once again, I’m sorry you had a problem with the dough.

      Reply

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hello there...

I'm Lovoni - an Aussie living abroad for the last 21 years. Working in food media, I'm a cookbook author; food stylist; cookery teacher & I had a TV food show when I lived in Canada. As a certified nutritionist I believe in nourishment not punishment & love pastry, good wine & afternoon teas. Full of wanderlust, I'm always on the lookout for my next adventure...

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Here are some random pics: the first is mum & I in a tiny church in Drummheller, Alberta, Canada. There is one of mum in her bikini drinking a scotch at Palm Beach in Sydney (snarky me on the left in that pic). The last one is mum as a bridesmaid holding my sister. There’s one with my niece when she was little. I love the one where mum has decorated herself in daisy chains. Good memories. 
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Such pretty little quail’s eggs. I’m working a Such pretty little quail’s eggs. I’m working at home all week testing recipes for a cookbook (sadly not another one of mine just yet) & one of the recipes requires quail eggs. I think I’d rather admire them than cook them but needs, must…
#textures #quaileggs #eggs #monotone #monotoneinterior #greys #greige #greigestyle #recipewriter #foodstylist #foodstyling #lovoni #freshhunger #recipetesting #lovonis_lark
Heading back to My homeland today for mum’s fune Heading back to My homeland today for mum’s funeral. Sadly mum passed away on Wednesday & the world suddenly became less joyful, less stylish & definitely less clean & tidy. Gardens are now less pretty & food not as tasty for mum was both a fabulous cook & had the most beautiful garden. Most of you who might take the time to read this never had the honour of meeting my mum but if you had met her, she would be your friend & confidant for life. She played both mum & dad to my sis & I after our father left but we never seemed to want for anything. She was a shining star who always encouraged me to follow my dreams, even when it meant me moving halfway around the world. That just made us closer. She will be missed by those who love her ♥️
Here are some random pics: the first is mum & I in a tiny church in Drummheller, Alberta, Canada. There is one of mum in her bikini drinking a scotch at Palm Beach in Sydney (snarky me on the left in that pic). The last one is mum as a bridesmaid holding my sister. There’s one with my niece when she was little. I love the one where mum has decorated herself in daisy chains. Good memories. 
.
.
.
.
#freshhunger #lovoni #lovonis_lark #mum #mumslife #missmymum #bestmum #bestmumever
How are you? I wanted to let you know I have a per How are you? I wanted to let you know I have a personal inst account @lovonis_lark & I’d love for you to visit & give me a follow. I have lots of really fun things afoot & that’s the place where I’ll sharing so pop over. I’d love to connect with you; we can’t all just be about work can we? L xo
Capture by @danshow02 
Cocktail made by @kalliopicarolynjones 
This shot is from a fun photo shoot I was styling for last week. This is one of my favourite images. 
.
.
.
#cocktailsofinstagram #martini #drinksplashphotography #olives #lovonis_lark #lovoni #freshhunger #foodstylist #foodstyling #foodstylingandphotography #darkandmoody #darkandmoodyfoodphotography
Crispy Tofu with Honey Sambal - rather bland tofu Crispy Tofu with Honey Sambal - rather bland tofu is a blank canvas. Even if you’re not a tofu lover I promise this delivers. Crispy outside & creamy inside with a sweet, hot peanuttty dipping sauce this is my absolute favorite way to eat tofu. 

https://freshhunger.com/2022/03/02/crispy-tofu-with-honey-sambal/
#tofu #vegetarianrecipes #vegetarian #tofurecipes #crispy #freshhunger #lovoni #foodstylistlife #foodstylingandphotography #darkandmoody #honey #sambal #onmytabletoday #onmytable #recipecreator
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https://freshhunger.com/2021/03/26/coconut-citrus-syrup-loaf/
#loafcake #lemony #freshhunger #lovoni #lemon #syrup #instabaking #onmytable #foodstylist #foodstylingandphotography #simpleliving #minimalist #eatcake #bakeathome #fromscratch #nutritionist #wholesome
Leaping (yes, leaping) into Monday with a jug of S Leaping (yes, leaping) into Monday with a jug of Sunburst juice - 1 orange, 2 red peppers, 3 carrots, 12 strawberries. Really quite good & packed with vitamin C. Have a great week everyone. Work on building some good habits. L xo 
.
.
.
#juice #juiceon #nutrition #nutritioncoach #nutritionist #nutritips #oranges #vitaminc #smallchanges #vitality #freshhunger #lovoni #foodstylist #foodstyling
Such pretty little quail’s eggs. I’m working a Such pretty little quail’s eggs. I’m working at home all week testing recipes for a cookbook (sadly not another one of mine just yet) & one of the recipes requires quail eggs. I think I’d rather admire them than cook them but needs, must…
#textures #quaileggs #eggs #monotone #monotoneinterior #greys #greige #greigestyle #recipewriter #foodstylist #foodstyling #lovoni #freshhunger #recipetesting #lovonis_lark
Heading back to My homeland today for mum’s fune Heading back to My homeland today for mum’s funeral. Sadly mum passed away on Wednesday & the world suddenly became less joyful, less stylish & definitely less clean & tidy. Gardens are now less pretty & food not as tasty for mum was both a fabulous cook & had the most beautiful garden. Most of you who might take the time to read this never had the honour of meeting my mum but if you had met her, she would be your friend & confidant for life. She played both mum & dad to my sis & I after our father left but we never seemed to want for anything. She was a shining star who always encouraged me to follow my dreams, even when it meant me moving halfway around the world. That just made us closer. She will be missed by those who love her ♥️
Here are some random pics: the first is mum & I in a tiny church in Drummheller, Alberta, Canada. There is one of mum in her bikini drinking a scotch at Palm Beach in Sydney (snarky me on the left in that pic). The last one is mum as a bridesmaid holding my sister. There’s one with my niece when she was little. I love the one where mum has decorated herself in daisy chains. Good memories. 
.
.
.
.
#freshhunger #lovoni #lovonis_lark #mum #mumslife #missmymum #bestmum #bestmumever
How are you? I wanted to let you know I have a per How are you? I wanted to let you know I have a personal inst account @lovonis_lark & I’d love for you to visit & give me a follow. I have lots of really fun things afoot & that’s the place where I’ll sharing so pop over. I’d love to connect with you; we can’t all just be about work can we? L xo
Capture by @danshow02 
Cocktail made by @kalliopicarolynjones 
This shot is from a fun photo shoot I was styling for last week. This is one of my favourite images. 
.
.
.
#cocktailsofinstagram #martini #drinksplashphotography #olives #lovonis_lark #lovoni #freshhunger #foodstylist #foodstyling #foodstylingandphotography #darkandmoody #darkandmoodyfoodphotography
Crispy Tofu with Honey Sambal - rather bland tofu Crispy Tofu with Honey Sambal - rather bland tofu is a blank canvas. Even if you’re not a tofu lover I promise this delivers. Crispy outside & creamy inside with a sweet, hot peanuttty dipping sauce this is my absolute favorite way to eat tofu. 

https://freshhunger.com/2022/03/02/crispy-tofu-with-honey-sambal/
#tofu #vegetarianrecipes #vegetarian #tofurecipes #crispy #freshhunger #lovoni #foodstylistlife #foodstylingandphotography #darkandmoody #honey #sambal #onmytabletoday #onmytable #recipecreator
Lemon Coconut Syrup Loaf - cold, snowy days calls Lemon Coconut Syrup Loaf - cold, snowy days calls for some cake. I have a nostalgic fondness for any sort of loaf cake. There’s something wholesome and reassuring about a cake cooked in a loaf pan. Not at all showy, a slice invokes, at times, a much-needed sense of security. It reminds me of mum and my nan, of times past back in my home in Sydney. I don’t recall if either mum or nan every made a Coconut Citrus Syrup Loaf but I know they both would of loved this recipe with its citrus tartness and the wonderfully sticky bottom from the syrup. Lovely just served on its own, it’s particularly good served with a dollop of clotted cream. 
https://freshhunger.com/2021/03/26/coconut-citrus-syrup-loaf/
#loafcake #lemony #freshhunger #lovoni #lemon #syrup #instabaking #onmytable #foodstylist #foodstylingandphotography #simpleliving #minimalist #eatcake #bakeathome #fromscratch #nutritionist #wholesome
Leaping (yes, leaping) into Monday with a jug of S Leaping (yes, leaping) into Monday with a jug of Sunburst juice - 1 orange, 2 red peppers, 3 carrots, 12 strawberries. Really quite good & packed with vitamin C. Have a great week everyone. Work on building some good habits. L xo 
.
.
.
#juice #juiceon #nutrition #nutritioncoach #nutritionist #nutritips #oranges #vitaminc #smallchanges #vitality #freshhunger #lovoni #foodstylist #foodstyling

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