Mini Brain Dumps

Hello and welcome back to Mini Brain Dumps. I’m Eleanor, and today I’m sharing a recipe close to my heart—shortbread cookies. These simple, buttery treats remind me of quiet afternoons on the farm with my grandparents.

Shortbread cookies are a perfect reflection of Eleanor’s character because they’re classic, simple, and comforting. Like shortbread, Eleanor isn’t flashy; instead, she’s understated, with a steady presence that leaves a lasting impression.

This recipe is from All Recipes.

Shortbread Cookies:

Prep Time: 15 Minutes
Cooking Time: 10 Minutes
Total Time: 25 Minutes

What You’ll Need:

• 2 cups butter, softened
• 1 cup white sugar
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 4 cups all-purpose flour

Instructions:

• Preheat oven to 350°F
• Beat softened butter and sugar together in a large bowl with an electric mixer until light and fluffy.

• Stir in vanilla; add flour and mix well until combined.

• Shape cookies into whatever shape you would like them to be (I did small circles and pressed a fork into the top of the cookie to make a pattern in them). Keep in mind, that shortbread is baked at a lower temperature so they do not spread out nearly as much as a regular cookie. Place cookies on an ungreased baking sheet
• Bake in oven for 10 to 12 minutes, or until the edges are just starting to turn a golden brown color
• Remove the cookie sheets from the oven, and let them cool in the pan for five minutes before transferring the shortbread cookies to the rack to cool completely. Shortbread cookies are very delicate when taking them off of a baking sheet so make sure to be super careful when doing this step. I do not recommend eating them until they are completely cooled to allow the crumbly buttery texture to really stand out
• Decorate with whatever topping you would like. My grandma always used candied cherries on hers, but you can use anything like melted chocolate, sprinkles, or even icing
• Enjoy!

And there you have it, a class shortbread cookie!

What are your thoughts? Do you think Eleanor is a shortbread cookie, or is there something else that you would envision for her? Leave me a comment below with your suggestions!

Happy holidays!

P.S. I am a writer, not a baker… please don’t judge my baking too harshly. I tried haha 🙂

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