What tastes better on Christmas? Shortbread or Sugar Cookies?

Question

I want to make some cookies for Christmas as gifts. I can't decide on whether I should make shortbread or sugar cookies. If you guys know any excellent recipes for these please include a copy or a link in your answer. Thanks so much!

Answer 1

Short dough/short bread. I have a pretty cool recipe and I have a tendency to make them year round. When I take them out of the oven I'll sprinkle powdered sugar on them, and the heat makes it melt into the cookie a little.

However my measurements are in weight instead of volume, but that's a really easy fix, just grab a 5 dollar diet scale when you're at the grocery if you don't have one already.

6 oz granulated sugar
14 oz room temp butter
1 whole egg
pinch salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Mix these together until just combined.

Add
1 pound of bread or all-purpose flour

Only mix until dough is uniform in texture.

Remove from the bowl, shape it into a flat rectangle, cover it in plastic wrap, and put it in the refrigerator for 30 minutes (or longer).
Make sure to use plenty of flour when you're rolling it out, and try to stay in a spot in your kitchen that's relatively cool, because the butter will start to melt the warmer it is, and the longer you work with it.
Use as you wish. Best temp for baking is 375 degrees F.
The awesome thing about this recipe is because of the high butter content, you can easily mix the scraps back up and reuse them without much difference in the end product. I love love love this recipe. I've used it to make tartlette shells, cookies, covered in chocolate, drizzled with caramel, with real toffee on top, etc. It's neutral enough so that you can do whatever you want with it.

What's funny is the last time I made it (last week) I forgot that I didn't have a rolling pin, so I had to pound it out using my hand, and luckily I did it quickly enough so that it didn't melt.

The problem with sugar cookies is that they're boring, and no offense guys, but everyone makes them. I remember when I was little I wanted my mom to make sugar cookies for my birthday because they were bland. The only thing that made them cool is that she piped an awesome 3-D buttercream rose into the middle of each of them. I like shortbread because it's delicious and buttery, and a little harder to make than sugar cookies. And you can decorate them in more ways!

Good luck with whatever you decide to make!!And yay for thinking about Christmas goodies this early!!

Answer 2

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Answer 3

If you have to choose between sugar cookies and shortbread cookies (both are great!), thinking about who you're making them for should make it easy to decide. In general, I'd say that kids prefer the sweetness of sugar cookies while adults prefer buttery, not-too-sweet shortbread. So if you're making cookies for a family, I'd include some sugar cookies in there to please the kids. But if they're for adults, I'd go with shortbread.

This recipe is a nice compromise, because it's a rich, buttery, not-too-sweet shortbread, but it's made with sweet and colorful maraschino cherries, so kids will love it, too. It's also super easy to make. No rolling out, no cutting shapes. Just press the batter into a square pan, bake, and slice. Easy as could be.

Easy Shortbread Bar Cookies

1 1/2 C flour
1 C sugar
1/4 C cornstarch
1/8 tsp salt
1 C very cold butter, cut into pieces
1 C red and green maraschino cherries, chopped
powdered sugar, for dusting

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Prepare two 8 x8-inch square pans.

In a food processor, blend the first four dry ingredients. Add in the butter pieces, and blend for about 30 seconds to combine.

Mix in the chopped maraschino cherries. Divide the mixture evenly between two 8x8-inch square pans, then press the dough firmly.

Bake for about 30-35 minutes or until baked through and pale golden (don't over bake them).

Cool in pans 10 minutes. While still warm, cut into small squares.

Cool completely in pans. Transfer to serving plate. Sprinkle lightly with powdered sugar.

I have more great Christmas cookie recipes on my website at http://www.divinedinnerparty.com/easy-delicious-christmas-cookies.html

Answer 4

It's fun to have a variety of cookies on Christmas, isn't it? I choose both. Here are a few websites. recipezaar.com and/or bettycrocker.com. You could also utilize Answers search and type in sugar cookie or shortbread and have fun looking at the listings given there. Good luck !

Answer 5

Sugar cookies! You might consider it cheating, but go get the Betty Crocker sugar cookie mix in the bag, its easy and comes ou just like homemade! All you'll need is egg and a stick of butter, makes about 30 cookies

Answer 6

I actually like shortbread cookies that use some brown sugar:) .... You're looking for Royal icing to make for the top.... You can find the recipe just about anywhere

Answer 7

I make sugar cookies when I want something pretty--roll them out and cut them with cookie cutters and frost them or paint them or sprinkle them with fancy bits of sugar...

Sugar Cookies and Cookie Glaze
http://www.casagordita.com/sugarcookiesandglaze.htm

But when I want something that tastes wonderful, I make shortbread--just butter and sugar and flour, pure and simple and exquisite...

Classic Scottish Shortbread
http://www.casagordita.com/shortbread.htm

Answer 8

I would say Sugar Cookies..but have you thought about Fudge..here is a great recipe thats easy to make.

INGREDIENTS:
1/4 cup butter
2 cups sugar
2/3 cup evaporated milk
2 cups (12 ounces) semisweet chocolate chips
1 jar (7 1/2 ounces) marshmallow creme
1 cup chopped pecans
1 teaspoon vanilla
pecan halves for garnish, optional
PREPARATION:
Heat butter in a heavy 3-quart skillet over low heat. Add sugar and evaporated milk; stir over medium heat until mixture comes to a rolling boil. Continue to boil for about 4 minutes, or until a candy thermometer registers 226°.

Remove from heat. Add chocolate chips; stir until melted. Stir in marshmallow creme, pecans, and vanilla until well blended. Pour into a greased 9-inch square baking pan. Place on rack to cool. Refrigerate for several hours, or until cool enough to cut into squares. Cover and store in refrigerator.
Makes about 4 dozen squares.

Answer 9

Love shortbread cookies especially with bits of pecans in them!

Answer 10

Sugar Cookies w/additional sugar sprinkled on top while still hot when removing from oven.