Roses Crescents Holiday Shortbread Cookies Recipes

VIENNESE CRESCENT HOLIDAY COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• In a large mixing bowl, combine flour, butter, nuts, 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar, salt, and vanilla. Hand mix until thoroughly blended. Shape dough into a ball. Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour.
• Meanwhile, place sugar in a bowl or small container. With sharp chef's knife, split vanilla bean lengthwise. Scrape out seeds, and mix them into the sugar. Cut pod into 2 inch pieces and mix into sugar.
• Remove dough from refrigerator and form into 1 inch balls. Roll each ball into a small roll, 3 inches long. Place rolls 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet, and bend each one to make a crescent shape.
• Bake 10 to 12 minutes in the preheated oven, or until set but not brown.
• Let stand 1 minute, then remove from cookie sheets. Place hot cookies on a large sheet of aluminum foil. Sprinkle with prepared sugar mixture. Turn gently to coat on both sides. Cool completely and store in an airtight container at room temperature. Just before serving, coat with more vanilla flavored sugar.

ROSE'S CRESCENTS (HOLIDAY SHORTBREAD COOKIES)

Steps:

• Sift the flour and salt together and set aside.
• Chop the almonds in a food processor or with a hand chopper until finely chopped.
• In a large bowl (I use a KitchenAid standing mixer), combine butter, margarine, sugar and almonds. Beat at medium speed until light and fluffy. It may require stopping the mixer and scrapping the sides.
• Gradually add the flour mixture and beat until well mixed. You'll likely have to scrap the sides of the bowl occasionally to ensure that all the ingredients are combined. The result will be a fairly sticky dough.
• Place the dough on wax paper and shape into a rectangle (4 x 6 x 1) and then wrap tightly in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for a minimum of two hours or overnight.
• Preheat the oven to 325. Cut the dough into eight sections. Working with two sections at a time (keep the rest of the dough refrigerated), pinch off small balls of dough (bigger than a marble but smaller than a golf ball). On a floured surface, roll the dough into a rope about the size and length of your pinkie. Shape the ropes into crescent (half-moon) shapes.
• Place on ungreased cookied sheets and bake for 10-13 minutes until set. The edges should be golden brown.
• Cool on the cookie sheet for 10 minute. Remove promptly and roll in topping mixture.

ROSEMARY SHORTBREAD CHRISTMAS TREE COOKIES

Steps:

• In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. In another bowl, whisk flour, rosemary and sea salt; gradually beat into creamed mixture., Divide dough in half. Shape each into a disk. Cover and refrigerate 1 hour or until firm enough to roll., Preheat oven to 350°. On a lightly floured surface, roll each portion of dough to 1/4-in. thickness. Cut with a floured 4-1/2 by 2-1/2-in. tree-shaped cookie cutter. Place 1 in. apart on parchment-lined baking sheets. If desired, decorate with colored sugar., Bake until edges begin to brown, 14-16 minutes. Let cool for 5 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks. , For frosting, beat confectioners' sugar, meringue powder and enough water to reach desired consistency. Divide frosting and add food coloring. Decorate cookies with frosting and nonpareils.