Best 6 Cranberry Shortbread Stars Recipes

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Indulge in a delightful culinary journey as we embark on a quest to discover the most extraordinary recipe for Cranberry Shortbread Stars! These festive treats, adorned with the vibrant hues of cranberries and the delicate crumbliness of shortbread, are sure to captivate your taste buds and transform your holiday gatherings into unforgettable occasions. From the selection of the finest ingredients to the precise techniques involved in crafting these delectable delights, we will guide you through every step of the baking process, ensuring that each bite is an explosion of flavors and textures that will leave you craving more.

Here are our top 6 tried and tested recipes!

CITRUS SHORTBREAD COOKIES



Citrus Shortbread Cookies image

This recipe was given to me by my mother-in-law, one of the best cooks I know...and given that we're from south Louisiana, that's saying something. With the chopped up dried cranberries, these are as pretty as they are tasty.

Provided by Donna

Categories     Desserts     Cookies     Fruit Cookie Recipes     Cranberry

Time 4h35m

Yield 24

Number Of Ingredients 9

2 cups all-purpose flour
¼ teaspoon baking powder
⅛ teaspoon salt
1 cup butter, softened
¾ cup confectioners' sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
½ teaspoon almond extract
1 tablespoon grated orange zest, or more to taste
2 cups sweetened dried cranberries, chopped

Steps:

  • Combine flour, baking powder, and salt in a bowl; set aside. Beat the butter and confectioners' sugar with an electric mixer in a large bowl until smooth. Stir in the vanilla and almond extracts and orange zest. Mix in the flour mixture until just incorporated. Fold in the cranberries; mixing just enough to evenly combine.
  • Divide the dough into 2 equal portions, then roll into logs about 7 inches long. Wrap each log in wax paper or plastic wrap, and chill in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours.
  • Preheat an oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
  • Remove wax paper, and cut the cookie dough into 1/2-inch slices. Arrange the slices on a baking sheet about 1 inch apart.
  • Bake in the preheated oven until firm but not browned, about 10 minutes.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 152.5 calories, Carbohydrate 20.2 g, Cholesterol 20.3 mg, Fat 7.8 g, Fiber 0.8 g, Protein 1.2 g, SaturatedFat 4.9 g, Sodium 72 mg, Sugar 10.4 g

CRANBERRY SHORTBREAD STARS



Cranberry Shortbread Stars image

My family loves shortbread and I love cranberries, so I decided to put the two together. The star shape is a festive addition to my holiday cookie tray. -Sonya Labbe, West Hollywood, California

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Desserts

Time 35m

Yield about 3 dozen.

Number Of Ingredients 6

1 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup confectioners' sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup finely chopped dried cranberries

Steps:

  • In a large bowl, beat butter, confectioners' sugar and salt until blended. Beat in vanilla. Gradually beat in flour. Stir in cranberries., Shape dough into a disk; wrap in plastic. Refrigerate 30 minutes or until firm enough to roll., Preheat oven to 325°. On a lightly floured surface, roll dough to 1/4-in. thickness. Cut with a floured 2-in. star-shaped cookie cutter. Place 1 in. apart on greased baking sheets., Bake 12-15 minutes or until edges are golden brown. Remove from pans to wire racks to cool.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 87 calories, Fat 5g fat (3g saturated fat), Cholesterol 14mg cholesterol, Sodium 74mg sodium, Carbohydrate 10g carbohydrate (4g sugars, Fiber 0 fiber), Protein 1g protein.

CRANBERRY SHORTBREAD



Cranberry Shortbread image

I don't usually make shortbread, but this recipe comes from a great cookbook [The Joy of Cranberries: That Tangy Red Treat], so I figure its gotta be a good one!

Provided by Sydney Mike

Categories     Dessert

Time 1h

Yield 4 dozen, 24 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 5

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup unsalted butter (no substitute)
1/2 cup dried cranberries, finely chopped

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.
  • Stir together flour, sugar & salt, then cut in butter until mixture resembles fine crumbs.
  • Stir in cranberries, then form into a ball & knead until smooth.
  • Divide dough in half.
  • On a lightly floured surface, pat or roll each dough portion to a 1/2-inch thickness.
  • Use a knife & cut into 24 2"x1" strips, then place these strips 1 inch apart on an ungreased baking sheet.
  • Bake 20-26 minutes or until bottoms just start to brown.
  • Cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then remove & cool completely on wire rack.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 132.2, Fat 7.8, SaturatedFat 4.9, Cholesterol 20.3, Sodium 25.6, Carbohydrate 14.3, Fiber 0.4, Sugar 4.3, Protein 1.4

DRIED-CRANBERRY SHORTBREAD HEARTS



Dried-Cranberry Shortbread Hearts image

This simple shortbread recipe is patted firmly into a baking pan; shapes are cut with a cookie cutter.

Provided by Martha Stewart

Categories     Food & Cooking     Dessert & Treats Recipes     Cookie Recipes

Yield Makes about 1 1/2 dozen 1 3/4-inch hearts

Number Of Ingredients 6

1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
3/4 cup sifted confectioners' sugar
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2 cups sifted all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup finely chopped dried cranberries or cherries

Steps:

  • Heat oven to 325 degrees with rack in center. Combine butter, confectioners' sugar, vanilla, flour, and salt in large mixing bowl. Beat with a wooden spoon until combined but not too creamy. Stir in dried cranberries.
  • Pat dough evenly into an 8- or 9-inch-square baking pan. Bake until just beginning to turn golden, about 20 minutes. Place pan on cooling rack until cool enough to touch, about 20 minutes. Run knife around edges, remove shortbread, and transfer, right side up, to work surface. Use 1 1/2- to 2-inch heart cookie cutter to cut out cookies. Use a paring knife to trim stray bits of cranberry from edges. Cookies will keep for 5 days at room temperature in an airtight container.

MINI CRANBERRY SHORTBREAD TARTS



Mini Cranberry Shortbread Tarts image

These are delicious and look great on any Thanks giving or Christmas pastry or cookie plate. from Canadian Living Magazine. The recipe includes the 1 1/2 hrs chilling time.

Provided by Marlitt

Categories     Tarts

Time 2h

Yield 36 tarts

Number Of Ingredients 15

1 cup unbleached flour
2/3 cup icing sugar
1/3 cup butter, cold
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon water
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup corn syrup
1 egg
2 tablespoons butter, melted
1 teaspoon orange zest
2 teaspoons orange juice
1 pinch salt
1/3 cup cranberries, fresh chopped
1/4 walnuts or 1/4 dried cranberries, chopped

Steps:

  • Shortbread Shells:.
  • In a large bowl whisk together the flour and sugar.
  • Cut in the butter using a pastry blender or 2 knives until you have coarse crumbs with a few larger pieces.
  • In a small bowl whisk egg, vanilla, and water together and drizzle over the flour, tossing with a fork until the dough holds together.
  • Gather into a ball and turn out onto a floured surface.
  • Flatten into a disc, wrap in plastic wrap and refidgerate for about an hour (can be made upto 2 days ahead).
  • On a lightly floured surface roll out the dough to 1/4 inch thickness.
  • Using a 2 1/4 inch round cookie cutter, cut out 36 pieces, rerolling scraps.
  • Fit into mini muffin tin and freeze for 30 minutes.
  • Filling:.
  • Preheat Oven to 350 degrees For 180 degrees Celsius.
  • In a medium bowl mix together sugar, corn syrup,egg, butter, orange rind and juice, and salt.
  • Stir in cranberries and walnuts.
  • Spoon the mixture into shells.
  • Bake in the bottom 1/3 of oven until the filling is puffed and pastry is golden.
  • Let cool on a rack for one minute and then run a metal spatula to loosen.
  • Using a metal spatual tranfer tarts to cooling rack.
  • Store layered with wax paper in an airtight container for 3 days.
  • These can be frozen up to 2 weeks.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 58.6, Fat 2.7, SaturatedFat 1.6, Cholesterol 18, Sodium 25, Carbohydrate 8.1, Fiber 0.1, Sugar 4.2, Protein 0.7

CRANBERRY SHORTBREAD BARS



Cranberry Shortbread Bars image

Look at the lovely confection our Test Kitchen came up with when it combined cranberries, coconut and white chocolate! Colorful and tasty, these bars and a glass of milk make the perfect treat after a dusty afternoon of raking leaves. TIP: Wrapped in colored cellophane and ribbons, Cranberry Shortbread Bars are pretty enough to double as quick holiday gifts, don't you think?

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Desserts

Time 50m

Yield 2 dozen.

Number Of Ingredients 13

1 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup confectioners' sugar
1 egg
1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup sweetened shredded coconut
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
3 tablespoons cornstarch
1 package (12 ounces) fresh or frozen cranberries
1 cup unsweetened apple juice
1 cup chopped walnuts
2 ounces white baking chocolate, melted

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 425°. In a large bowl, cream butter and confectioners' sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in egg. Combine flour, coconut and salt; gradually add to creamed mixture and mix well. Set aside 1 cup for topping. Spread remaining mixture into a greased 13x9-in. baking dish. Bake 10 minutes., Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, combine sugars and cornstarch. Stir in cranberries and apple juice. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cook and stir 5 minutes or until thickened. Remove from heat; stir in walnuts. , Spread over crust. Sprinkle with reserved crumb mixture. Bake 20-25 minutes or until golden brown and bubbly. Cool on a wire rack. Drizzle with white chocolate. Cut into bars.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 205 calories, Fat 12g fat (6g saturated fat), Cholesterol 30mg cholesterol, Sodium 101mg sodium, Carbohydrate 23g carbohydrate (15g sugars, Fiber 1g fiber), Protein 3g protein.

Tips:

  • Mise en place: Before you start baking, make sure you have all of your ingredients and tools ready to go. This will help you stay organized and avoid any scrambling.
  • Use cold butter: Cold butter is easier to work with and will help keep your shortbread from spreading too much in the oven.
  • Cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy: This will help to incorporate air into the dough, making it light and tender.
  • Add the dry ingredients gradually: This will help to prevent the dough from becoming tough.
  • Chill the dough before baking: This will help to firm it up and make it easier to handle.
  • Bake the shortbread until the edges are golden brown: This will ensure that the cookies are cooked through without overbaking them.
  • Let the shortbread cool completely before frosting: This will help to prevent the frosting from melting.
  • Enjoy! Cranberry Shortbread Stars are a delicious and festive treat that are perfect for any occasion.

Conclusion:

Cranberry Shortbread Stars are a classic holiday cookie that is easy to make and always a hit. With their buttery shortbread crust and tart cranberry filling, they are sure to be a favorite of everyone who tries them. So next time you are looking for a festive and delicious treat, give Cranberry Shortbread Stars a try. You won't be disappointed!

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