Decorating - Christmas Shortbread

Click HERE for the shortbread recipe!

And click HERE to watch the YouTube tutorial!

All you need to decorate shortbread is a little icing, good quality chocolate, some sprinkles and a whole LOT OF imagination!

Take a wander through Bulk Barn, Michaels or any decent grocery store for sprinkle inspiration. Some of the slightly harder to find items (tiny silver balls and glitter) can be found at websites such as Scoop'n'Save or Flour Confections, both Canadian companies, which I love to support!

You can also roll the shortbread dough out and use cookie cutters, then decorate with icing, chocolate etc.

HOW TO:

1.) Pre-heat oven to 275 degrees F

2.) Bake time for the cookies is 40-45 minutes (the stamped ones might need a little less time as they have been flattened a bit)

***Recipe link at top of page!

STAMPING & GOLD DUSTING

1.) Make your log

2.) Immediately (do not chill it) slice your cookies about 1/4" thick and place on the cookie sheet

3.) Cover the cookies with saran wrap and use whatever you might have around the house (I used a fabric stamp) to stamp a pretty design into the cookie. You might have to experiment a bit to find the right impression.

4.) Using a watercolour brush, brush the cookie tops with a little gold dust, and sprinkle a few of the smallest size non pareils on the tops. Very lightly press them into the cookie with your finger.

5.) Chill the cookies for 1/2 hour then bake at 275F for 40-45 minutes (these cookies might take less time to bake as they have been flattened a bit)

SPRINKLES

***Make your own sprinkle mixes by buying bulk sprinkles (or glitters, dragees etc) at Bulk Barn or Scoop 'n' Save and create your own custom mixes. SO FUN! Then you can use them for your Rainbow Jewel logs (like above) and to sprinkle on the cookie tops as per below

1.) Make your log and chill for 30 minutes

2.) Slice the cookies 1/4" thick and place on cookie sheets

3.) Sprinkle the cookie tops with the sprinkles of your choice

3.) Bake at 275F for 40-45 minutes

RAINBOW JEWELS

(or Xmas Jewels)

1.) Make your log, then roll it right away (at room temp.) into the sprinkles that you've placed on the wax paper on the counter

2.) Keep rolling and pressing the log into the sprinkles until it is as "bejewelled" as you'd like it to be

3.) Chill for 1/2 hour then slice using the sharpest knife you have

4.) Bake at 275 F for 40-45 minutes

For the following TWO cookies you will BAKE THEM FIRST!

1.) Make your logs and chill for 30 minutes

2.) Slice the cookies 1/4" thick and place on cookie sheets

3.) Bake at 275F for 40-45 minutes

CHOCOLATE DIPPED:

***Use the best quality chocolate you can find! I like either Callebaut or Valhrona. You can also buy special chocolate "melts" or in a pinch use chocolate chips.

1.) Using a double boiler (or create your own using 2 saucepans or a saucepan of water with a stainless steel bowl) to melt the chocolate.

***It is possible to microwave but I prefer the above method.

2.) Using a spatula or a knife spread the chocolate on the cookies and let the sprinkle art begin!

***I find that non pareils (small balls), dragees (also balls) gold flake and jimmies look best when it comes to using sprinkles on chocolate.

ICING:

1.)A little icing goes a long way here. Simply put 1 cup of icing sugar in a bowl and add a little bit of milk, cream, oat or almond milk (any will do) until you get the consistency you want from your icing. (Spreadable not too thin and runny).

2.) Using a spatula or a knife spread the chocolate on the cookies and let the sprinkle art begin!

***I find that non pareils (sm. balls), dragees (also balls) and jimmies look best when it comes to using sprinkles on icing.