A beautifully spiced, buttery shortbread that is the perfect vehicle for all those leftover bits and bobs in your pantry! Zero waste has never tasted so good.
Category
dessert
Servings
20 cookies
Prep Time
15 minutes
Cook Time
15 minutes
A beautifully spiced, buttery shortbread that is the perfect vehicle for all those leftover bits and bobs in your pantry! Zero waste has never tasted so good.
Ingredients
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 3/4 cup icing sugar
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp vanilla extract (or the seeds from a used vanilla pod!)
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp ground ginger
- 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
- A pinch of salt
- Finely chopped toasted nuts (walnuts, almonds, pecans)
- Rolled oats
- Desiccated coconut
- Citrus zest (orange or lemon work beautifully)
- A tablespoon of leftover coffee grounds (for a deep, rich note!)
For the Base Dough:
Your "Kitchen Sink" Mix-Ins (Pick 1/4 to 1/2 cup total):
Directions
- Cream the Goodness: In a large bowl, beat the softened butter and icing sugar together until light and fluffy. Beat in the vanilla extract.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In another bowl, whisk together the flour, spices, and salt.
- Bring It Together: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture, mixing on low speed until just combined. The dough will be crumbly but should hold together when pressed.
- Add Your "Sink": Gently fold in your chosen mix-ins until evenly distributed.
- Shape & Chill: Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and gently knead it into a smooth log, about 2 inches in diameter. Wrap the log in a piece of parchment paper or a beeswax wrap and twist the ends. Chill for at least 30 minutes.
- Bake to Perfection: Preheat your oven to 160°C (325°F). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Slice the chilled dough log into 1cm thick rounds and place them on the prepared sheet. Bake for 15-18 minutes, or until the edges are just lightly golden.
- Cool Completely: Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Recipe Note
This isn't just a cookie; it's a statement. It’s proof that being mindful doesn't mean missing out. It means creating something uniquely delicious, full of love and intention, from things you already have. That’s the true spirit of the season.
Happy baking, and happy planet-saving!
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