I’m on a gingerbread kick this season. Did you happen to see my gingersnaps (they’re the best!) or these gingerbread muffins (with white chocolate!)? I knew I had to add gingerbread shortbread cookies to my baking list. How long it takes: 15 minutes to prep and at least 30 minutes to chill. Equipment you’ll need: mixer, baking sheet Servings: makes 2 dozen I have to say, I think these gingerbread shortbread cookies may be my favorite new cookie creation of this year. Thanks to a medley of warm spices (ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom, and cloves), gingerbread cookies are downright exciting to eat. Dried cranberries add a bit of chewiness as well as tartness that really balances the flavors perfectly.
Why You’ll Love This Shortbread Cookie Recipe
They are super easy to make! It’s no secret that I love shortbread cookies. You can make the dough in less than 15 minutes with ingredients that you probably already have in your pantry. There’s nothing complicated about shortbread. Shortbread cookies taste so good! Butter is a KEY ingredient and you can tell by the way the cookie melts in your mouth. Of course, butter also gives wonderful flavor to the cookies. The warm spices and molasses are key components, too. You can make slice and bake cookies ahead. The very best part about shortbread cookies is that you can make the dough ahead of time and freeze it. Pull it out of the freezer any time you need freshly baked cookies. Slice and bake as many as you want. You can even use your toaster oven if you only want a few cookies.
Storage and Make Ahead Ideas
Freeze the dough. One of the features you’ll love about shortbread cookies is that you can make the dough and freeze it to bake later. Make the dough into a log (or shorter logs) and wrap it securely. It will keep for up to 3 months. Bake cookies as needed. Freeze baked cookies. After the cookies have cooled completely, store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week, or put the cookies in a freezer-safe container and freeze for up to 3 months.
Quick-Start Guide!
