~~ 2009 Cookie Exchange ~~

I love Christmas. I love baking. While surfing the internet over the last couple of years I've discovered this cool idea from America that combines both my loves - a cookie exchange! None of my friends bake, absolutely none of them. So I had to come up with a way to combine both my loves and this really cool idea, and here it is! I'm going to bake Christmas cookies, and share the recipe, a small review and photo here, on my blog! I've sourced recipes from various places (and I'll share that info when I post each recipe), some old favourites, lots of new recipes, and because all the Christmas magazines have yet to be released I may make even more than the twelve items on my list! Happy baking!

First up - Chocolate Shortbread

Ingredients
300g unsalted butter, softened
1cup (220g) caster sugar
2 1/2cups (375g) plain (all purpose) flour
5Tbs cocoa powder (I used Nestle baking cocoa)
1/4tsp bicarb soda

Method
- cream butter and sugar until pale and fluffy
- sift dry ingredients, stir until combined
- spread out into lined lamington pan
- refrigerate 15min
- bake 25min, 180degrees
- allow to cool, cut into rectangle slices

Review
a very chocolatey shortbread (I lost count of the cocoa, think I put 6Tbs in it ~lol~), nice and crumbly as you bite into it, and very moreish for everyone who has eaten it. Quite simple to make, Riley was up and down while I was baking, so it took me about 3hrs all up to do, but the effort was worth it, definitely a staple recipe to be used all year round.