I think I’m all ready for Christmas. Phew! The only thing I have left to do is our dessert for tomorrow’s family dinner and making tonight’s cozy supper for two. Every Christmas Eve, Cornelius and I relax, drink boozy cocktails, watch movies and play games. Our bar is stocked, we’ve got my favorite Christmas movie ever, The Shop Around the Corner, and a bunch of board games all lined up. I was thinking I might make up some moules et frites for this evening, but decided to try another Flemish specialty, a Belgium-beer braised beef stew instead. I’ll let you know how things turn out.
But if you are still in the last minute throes of a baking frenzy, I did make a very simple and super delicious holiday cookie this past week that I’m eager to share. These shortbread cookies are chocolately, buttery and easy to make vegan (if that’s what you’re into). For me, these cookies are pretty hard to resist and I keep sneaking into the cookie tin to try just one more. Even snacking on them straight from the freezer makes them doubly enjoyable!
Enjoy and happy holidays!!
chocolate shortbread cookies
1 c unsalted butter, softened (or use Earth Balance margarine for a vegan version)
2/3 c icing sugar
1 t vanilla
1 1/2 c all purpose flour
1/4 c cocoa
1/2 t kosher salt1. Blend together the butter, sugar and vanilla in a large mixing bowl.
2. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour and cocoa. Mix in the salt. Add this mixture to the butter and sugar and combine until blended. Wrap dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 hour.
3. Preheat oven to 275. Roll out dough to 1/8″ thickness and cut out with small circle-shaped cookie cutter. Bake for 17-20 minutes and cool on a wire rack.
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Sounds like a pleasant Christmas Eve you’ve got lined up. Nice looking cookies too, I don’t think I’ve ever tried chocolate shortbread.
Happy Holidays!
That shortbread looks wonderful! I wish I had made more chocolate cookies this year.
Have a Merry Christmas J!!!
I love the sound of those cookies. Maybe I’ll whip up a batch for New Year’s Eve…I’m still working on the white chocolate candy cane bark, chocolate covered pretzels and salted nuts with dark chocolate – that i prepared for my weekend family pre- Christmas dinner. What a coincidence I also made a beef stew, cooked with a whole bottle of dark ale. I did not sample the stew as I do not eat beef but those who tried it said it was very good.
Good luck with your own version.
Your Christmas eve plans sound quite fun too 😀
judy, i’m so looking forward to this evening so i can just relax! as for chocolate shortbread, it’s pretty awesome 🙂
thanks fiber, merry christmas back at ya!
thanks rachel, this was my favorite holiday cookie by far!
merry christmas joanne! i’m hoping my beef stew turns out wonderfully too. have a great holiday!
Merry Christmas to you and Cornelius, Jeannette! I wish Aaron and I could join you guys for drinks, movies and games – sounds like heaven, indeed. We miss you both and look forward to seeing you again soon!
Merry, merry Christmas!
C.
xoxo
Sounds like such a fun and relaxing Christmas Eve!
Merry Christmas to you!
Here’s what I finally finished making: 4 loaves of banana bread, 2 kinds of truffles that tried to kick my ass, and just today, vegan eggnog cupcakes which were excellent. I am done with the kitchen for the year.
the chocolate shortbread cookies sound fabulous for a Christmas treat – I do hope that your Christmas celebration is joyous and filled with sweet treats (sounds like it will be)!!
Merry Christmas!! :0)
chocolate shortbread….fantastic…never had it!!!!!
OLd movies are THE best way to celebrate!
and good food!
Merry Christmas!
Sounds fabulous! Hope you had a great couple of days 🙂 Late Merry Christmas!
Sounds like a wonderful way to spend Christmas 🙂
And the chocolate shortbread is a fab idea – very moreish by the sounds of things. Once I’ve cleaned up the kitchen from it’s current messy state, I’ll give them a whirl.
These look delightful. I’ll have to bookmark the recipe to try sometime when I’ve recovered from my sugar overdose.
I *love* The Shop Around the Corner…and these cookies! The texture looks amazing!!
craig, i can’t wait to see you guys again too!
phew, lydia! amazing kitchen output. awesome.
hag, this cookie is awesome. it’s the only thing i kept a little extra for myself this year. yum.
thanks veggiegirl, hope you had an equally sweet christmas!
jenn, a late merry christmas to you too!
ooh, moresh, i love that! thanks jen.
lynn, i’m suffering from that same sugar overload!
cakespy, i’m so glad to know someone else who loves that movie! it’s the best!
Oo chocolate shortbread. I’ve seen recipes for it but haven’t actually tried it yet. I’m surprised that you can replace the butter with Earth Balance margarine though since it’s soft isn’t it? Hope you had a great Christmas! Your Christmas Eve sounds perfect.
Hey….these sound so delicious…I LOVE chocolate and I LOVE shortbread, so what a great combo, but I do have a question….is icing sugar the same thing as powdered sugar? I would assume so, but I don’t want to ruin the recipe if I assume wrong! Thanks! I love your blog!
eatme, earth balance works great in this! butter has to be soft in this recipe, so switching it for something non-dairy isn’t a problem.
michelle, in canada we call powdered sugar icing sugar! same thing! good luck.
I tried these and they were initially really crumbly and kind of discouraging, but by the next morning they had miraculously changed into deliciousness! Chocolate shortbread’s not my favorite, but it was a good alternative to the typical cookies I make…
allison, any morning where cookies turn into deliciousness, is a great morning indeed 🙂
i made your colcannon tonight and oh my gosh is it delish.
i am still glowing in mashed potatoey happiness!