RECIPE: Whipped Shortbreads

It's Foodie Friday, and my sister Lizzy is here with my FAVOURITE holiday cookie recipe! These are MUST HAVES at our house (for eating, for entertaining & as gifts!) If you make them, let us know how they turn out:)

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Around this time of year there are so many holiday parties. 

Really, who wants to be stuck in the kitchen in all day before a party?

This is where my grandmas Whipped Shortbreads come in handy. They are fast, easy and melt in your mouth. People will think you’ve been cooking all day but really they just make you look like a rockstar!

What do you need?
1 package of salted butter softened (I prefer Gay Lea Salted Butter as it has the best salt to butter ratio for these cookies!)
1/4 cup of cornstarch
1/2 cup of icing sugar
1 1/2 cups of flour

How do you do it? (and work a little skin magic in the process!)

Pre-heat your oven to 375 degrees and whip your butter until it is fluffy. I leave the butter to beat for at least 5 minutes while I put on a face mask. 

mix, mix, mix!

When I have a party, I like to prepare my face for the night ahead. Detoxing your face is the best thing you can do!

Now add the rest of the ingredients and mix for as long as you can. Remember, the more you mix the better texture the cookies will be. 

While it’s mixing, I wash the face mask off my face and put on some moisturizer. Moisturizer will help keep your skin looking fresh all night and morning. Remember, many of those holiday drinks can strip your face of nutrients and leave you looking tired by the end of the night.

Spoon the mixture onto the cookie sheet two inches apart. You can also add some cherries for colour if you wish. 

Bake for 12 – 15 minutes.  

During the baking time, I do my eye make-up. I could spend hours on my make-up, so this is a great way to limit myself!

Take the cookies out of the oven and let cool on the cookie sheet for five to ten minutes. 

Once cooling, I put on the rest of my make-up (foundation, blush etc). 

Once done, I return to the kitchen to let the cookies cool on a cooling rack for 30 minutes.

While they are on the rack I do my hair. By the time they are done cooking, my hair is done. I package them up and then get dressed.  

YUMMMM!

Time management is my best friend during the holidays. Stick with my holiday motto: Stay hydrated and always look fabulous! Remember, you never know who might be at the party. 

Be good or be good at it!

Lizzy 

Browned Butter and Brown Sugar Cookies

Hey, meet my sister.
(I'm the blonde, she's the kissy face- in case you were wondering).


She's a foodie and a fashionista and she's going to be blogging with me on Sleeping Is For Losers- sharing her fav tips and tricks for the kitchen and your closet!

Today, for Foodie Friday, she's starting us off with a delish cookie recipe!
Make sure you show Lizzy some love

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One of my favourite parts of Christmas is the baking. I remember eagerly anticipating going to my grandma’s house for Sunday dinner in December and her creating some of the most mouthwatering baking creations. From Guy Squares and Whipped Shortbreads to a proper English Trifle; Christmas would not be the same without them. Although my grandma may not be able to bake with me this year, I can continue on with her tradition of baking.  And so it begins; here are my top Christmas recipes.

Browned Butter and Brown Sugar Cookies

Nothing beats the smell of bubbling butter on the stove, just waiting to be mixed with sweet brown sugar. 

First, take one cup of unsalted butter and melt in a small saucepan on medium. Make sure you are stirring constantly. In two minutes you will start to see the butter change in colour to a dark brown.  Make sure to remove from heat when you see little black spots at the bottom of the saucepan. This means it’s done and will smell slightly nutty. Let cool for 20 minutes.

While your butter is cooling, preheat your oven to 350 degrees. My oven is very hot, so I actually put my oven to 335 degrees. It’s very important to know the temperature of your oven; it’s the difference between burnt cookies and awesome cookies. 

In a medium sized bowl mix together your dry ingredients: 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour, 1/2 teaspoon baking soda, 1/4 teaspoon baking powder, 1/2 teaspoon salt and ½ teaspoon of cinnamon (you can also add ½ a teaspoon of nutmeg for a fuller flavor).       

Time for the magic! 

In your stand mixer or using a hand mixer, beat on medium the browned butter and 1 3/4 cups packed light brown sugar (you can add a little more sugar if you like them sweet!). Beat until there are no lumps(anywhere from two to three minutes).  Add 1 large egg and 1 1/2 tablespoons vanilla (you can also add some brandy if you like some booze in your cookies). 

Add your dry ingredients slowly. Mix well.

Take a spoonful of dough and roll to make a small ball. Roll in white sugar and/or brown sugar. If you like sweet and salty, sprinkle the balls with a small amount of sea salt. Place on a greased/parchment paper lined cookie sheet and bake for 10 – 12 minutes.


The cookies should look slightly cracked. 

Put in an airtight container or bag. These only keep for a week, after a week they will begin to get hard.

Un-eaten cookie options:
- Create as a crumble to add to oatmeal or muffin topping
- Crumble and add more butter to create a crust for a pie

These cookies are fun and easy! Use your senses when cooking them and add your own twist (top with a whisky icing, add sea salt for a salty twist, add chocolate chips etc). Don’t be scared to try something new – that’s the joy of baking. 

Be good or be good at it,

 Lizzy