Classic Shortbread Cookies for Holiday Gift Giving

Only 3 ingredients needed for holiday shortbread cookies.

1 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 1/2 cup sifted all purpose flour

Directions for baking Scottish Shortbread Cookies

Cream butter and sugar together until light and fluffy.
Stir in the flour.
Chill several hours.
Divide in half.
Pat each half into an ungreased pie plate.
Alternatively, you may roll out the dough on waxed paper to a thickness of about 1/2 inch.
With a fork prick each half deeply to make pie shaped wedges.
Use a wooden spoon handle to flute the edges.
You can make 8 or 16 wedges per plate depending on the size of the cookies you want.
Bake at 300 degrees F. for 30 minutes.

How to bake Butter Pecan Shortbread Cookies

The ingredients are the same except:

The flour is 2 1/4 cups
Add 1/2 cup finely chopped pecans

The instructions are the same except:
the pie plate should be greased.
Bake at 300 degrees F. for 18 to 20 minutes

How to bake Apple Pie Shortbread Cookies

1 cup butter, softened
2/3 cup sugar
1 egg yolk
1/3 cup apple butter
2 1/3 cup flour
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon apple pie spice
1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Cream flour and sugar until fluffy
Add egg yolk, vanilla and apple butter and mix well
Whisk flour, cinnamon, and apple pie spice together and add. Mix until well blended.
Divide dough in half.
Shape each half into a 6 inch disc on waxed paper
Refrigerate for 30 minutes
Invert one disc of dough into an ungreased 9 inch pie plate
Press dough into plate with lightly floured hands, covering plate completely.
Deeply score into 8 wedges.
Bake 35 minutes or until golden brown

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