12.01.2012

Cranberry Rum Shortbread Cookies


It's December! Are you ready?
Get in the mood with this:


And then, by making these!

Calling these gems Cranberry Rum Shortbreads might a little off base. I'd call them RUM Cranberry Shortbreads. They pack quite a kick. You know what they say about listing the main ingredient first. Well, it's what you taste first.  :) 

Now it might be because I used dark rum, but I doubt it. Every year it seems I post a cranberry shortbread of some kind. I love having them in the freezer ready to slice and bake. But I must say, these are not your usual shortbreads. Not very sweet, although you could sprinkle them with some confectioners sugar, but oh the booze. Who needs sweetness when you've got dark rum as a flavor?? 

I plan to take them to a few parties this season. They look so innocent in the photo, don't they? Don't be taken in. Leave them out for your favorite Santa!


Cranberry Rum Shortbread Cookies
From Everybody Likes Sandwiches, adapted from a 1980s recipe in the Vancouver Sun newspaper



Ingredients:
1 c dried cranberries
1/2 c rum
1 c butter, softened
1 T orange zest
1/2 t vanilla extract
1/2 c icing (powdered) sugar
2 c all purpose flour
1/4 t salt
1/4 t baking powder

Method:
In a small saucepan, bring cranberries and rum to a boil. Remove from heat and let stand for 30 minutes until the rum is absorbed into the cranberries. Set aside to cool.
Cream butter, zest, vanilla and sugar together. In another bowl, mix flour, salt and baking powder – add gradually to the creamed mixture. Add the dried cranberries, stirring until just combined. Shape dough into 2 rolls, about 1 1/2? each in diameter. Wrap tightly in parchment paper and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or overnight.

When ready to bake, preheat oven to 375F. Slice each log into cookies about 1/4? thick and place on a prepared cookie sheet (I always line mine with silpat or ungreased parchment). Cookies don’t spread very much, so you can bake more at once if you like. Bake for about 10 minutes or until the edges are lightly golden. Cool on a wire rack. 

Sprinkle with icing (powdered) sugar if desired.


22 comments:

  1. Gorgeous! I'd love to bite into one of them.

    Cheers,

    Rosa

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  2. These cookies are just lovely! love cranberries!

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  3. Hi Barbara - Glad to see you're baking up a big holiday cookie fest! These look great, and I have no problem with revising the recipe title!

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  4. This will definitely put us in the mood for the holidays.

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  5. Can't wait to make them... but I must, because I have no dark rum in the house and VA is "dry" on Sundays...

    Wonder if my MIL has some?

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  6. these look great and so do the peppermint stars how was the move?

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  7. I love how these look..you know I love that shape:-)
    Thank you:-)

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  8. Just checked - I've got the cranberries, I've got the rum - guess what I am up to right now....that's my cookie baking sorted!

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  9. So pretty! I like a cookie that packs a wallop!

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  10. These are so pretty. I love the rum in them and that they aren't too sweet. Even better that you can keep them in the freezer for last minute guests.
    Sam

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  11. Hi Barbara,

    Oh delicious and must be the perfect cookie for the holidays - Santa, will be happy!

    Have a great new week
    hugs
    Carolyn

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  12. They do look innocent in the photo! The cranberries give them such a festive appearance.

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  13. Loved the video. And after looking at these cookies, I do believe I'm in the Holiday spirit. Beautiful Barbara.

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  14. Tis the season for butter, sugar and drinks. Fabulous that this cookie has it all!

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  15. This cookie is so magnificent :D

    Cheers
    Choc Chip Uru

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  16. I love shortbread! Yours with cranberries are perfect for the season.

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  17. This is my kind of cookie, great for prepping ahead of time and baking off later. Can't wait to try these!

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  18. i always call dried cranberries craisins, even though that's just one brand's name for them. kind of like kleenex for tissues and chapstick for lip stuff. tasty cookies, especially for the rum-lover!

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  19. This cookies look great...and the nice thing is that I have all the ingredients handy :)
    Hope you are having a great week Barbara!

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  20. these look absolutely beautiful and tasty! thanks so much. i'm now following you!!!

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  21. these look like the ideal holiday cookie--flecked with ruby red and spiked with a bit of rum--yum! I'll have to try these while I'm still in my cookie-baking---waiting for grandbaby mode.

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  22. These cookies look delicious.. perfect for the holiday cookie jar!

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