Spiced Shortbread Cookies Recipe: A Delightfully Healthier Holiday Treat
This post is sponsored by Stevia In The Raw®.
As the holiday season approaches, there’s a timeless tradition that brings warmth and joy to every home: baking cookies. Among the vast array of festive treats, shortbread cookies stand out as a beloved classic. Their simple elegance, buttery richness, and wonderfully crumbly texture make them an irresistible indulgence. This year, we’re putting a delightful spin on the traditional shortbread by infusing it with a medley of warm spices and making it a little lighter on the sugar, thanks to Stevia In The Raw®.
These Spiced Shortbread Cookies offer all the comforting flavors you crave, with the added benefit of reduced calories. By replacing half of the conventional sugar with Stevia In The Raw®, a zero-calorie sweetener derived from the sweet leaves of the stevia plant, we achieve a perfectly balanced sweetness that complements the aromatic spices beautifully. Get ready to fill your kitchen with the enticing scent of cinnamon, cloves, and ginger, and discover your new favorite holiday cookie!
Crafting Healthier Shortbread: Baking with Stevia In The Raw® Bakers Bag
Baking with sugar substitutes often raises questions about texture and browning, but with Stevia In The Raw® Bakers Bag, the process is incredibly straightforward. This specially formulated sweetener is designed to provide the same sweetness as sugar, measuring cup for cup, making it an ideal choice for easily adapting your cherished recipes to reduce sugar and calories.
Our recommendation for optimal results is to always retain at least half of the regular sugar in any baking recipe when using a substitute. This ensures that your cookies achieve the proper browning, a delicate rise, and the slight caramelization that only traditional sugar can provide. In this particular spiced shortbread recipe, where the original calls for ¾ cup of powdered sugar, we’ve perfectly balanced it by using half regular powdered sugar and half Stevia In The Raw® Bakers Bag. The fine texture of Stevia closely mimics that of powdered sugar, ensuring that the final cookies maintain their signature tender-crisp crumb without any noticeable difference.
The Simplicity of Making Spiced Shortbread
Creating these aromatic shortbread cookies is surprisingly easy and requires minimal effort. Here’s a quick overview of the process:
- Begin by combining your dry ingredients—flour, powdered sugar, Stevia In The Raw®, and a touch of salt—in a food processor or blender. A few quick pulses will ensure everything is well mixed.
- Next, add the softened unsalted butter and pure vanilla extract, along with the star spices: ground cinnamon, cloves, and ginger. Continue to pulse until the mixture comes together, forming a cohesive dough.
- Transfer the dough onto a sheet of parchment paper, gently shaping it into a smooth ball before flattening it slightly into a disk.
- Cover the dough with another sheet of parchment paper and roll it out evenly to about ⅛-inch thickness. This uniform thickness is key for consistent baking.
- Chill the rolled-out dough in the refrigerator for about 10 minutes. This crucial step helps the butter solidify, preventing the cookies from spreading too much during baking and ensuring crisp edges.
- While the dough chills, preheat your oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Once chilled, use your favorite cookie cutters to cut out shapes and carefully transfer them to a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or a silicone mat.
- Bake for 16 to 18 minutes, or until the edges are beautifully golden and the cookies feel dry to the touch.
- Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before moving them to a wire rack to cool completely.
The aroma that fills your kitchen during baking, thanks to the harmonious blend of cinnamon, cloves, and ginger, is truly an experience in itself – a perfect preview of the deliciousness to come.
Tips for Shortbread Perfection
Achieving bakery-quality shortbread at home is easier than you might think. Here are a few expert tips to ensure your Spiced Shortbread Cookies turn out perfectly every time:
- Quality Ingredients Matter: Since shortbread has so few ingredients, the quality of each really shines through. Use good quality unsalted butter and fresh spices for the best flavor.
- Room Temperature Butter: Ensure your butter is truly at room temperature. It should be soft enough to indent with your finger but not melted. This allows it to cream properly and combine seamlessly with the dry ingredients.
- Don’t Overmix: Once the dough just comes together, stop mixing. Overworking the dough can develop the gluten in the flour, resulting in tough cookies instead of the desired tender, crumbly texture.
- Chill Time is Essential: Do not skip the chilling step! Cold dough bakes more evenly, holds its shape better, and results in a crisper cookie. If your kitchen is warm, you might need to chill for a bit longer.
- Uniform Thickness: When rolling out the dough, aim for an even ⅛-inch thickness. This ensures all cookies bake at the same rate. Using a rolling pin with adjustable guides can be very helpful.
- Baking to Golden Perfection: Keep an eye on your cookies as they bake. Shortbread doesn’t necessarily get deeply browned, but the edges should turn a light golden color, and the cookies should look dry and set in the center.
Flavorful Variations and Serving Suggestions
While this Spiced Shortbread Cookie recipe is fantastic as is, don’t hesitate to get creative with variations. You can:
- Experiment with Spices: Add a pinch of nutmeg, cardamom, or allspice for an even more complex flavor profile.
- Introduce Zest: Incorporate finely grated orange or lemon zest into the dough for a brighter, citrusy note that pairs wonderfully with the warm spices.
- Add Texture: Fold in finely chopped nuts (like pecans or walnuts) or mini chocolate chips for added crunch and flavor.
- Glaze or Dip: For an extra touch of sweetness and decoration, drizzle cooled cookies with a simple powdered sugar glaze or dip one half in melted white or dark chocolate.
These Spiced Shortbread Cookies are perfect for any occasion. Enjoy them with your morning coffee, an afternoon latte, or a comforting cup of tea. They make a beautiful addition to any holiday cookie platter and are wonderful as edible gifts for friends and family. Wrap them in festive packaging, and you have a thoughtful, homemade present that’s sure to be appreciated.
Frequently Asked Questions About Spiced Shortbread Cookies
- Can I make these cookies without Stevia In The Raw®?
- Yes, you can. If you prefer to use only regular powdered sugar, simply use ¾ cup of powdered sugar in total and omit the Stevia. Keep in mind this will increase the calorie content and sweetness of the cookies.
- How should I store these shortbread cookies?
- Store cooled shortbread cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week. They can also be frozen for longer storage.
- Can I freeze the shortbread dough?
- Absolutely! After shaping the dough into a disk (step 4 in the recipe), wrap it tightly in plastic wrap, then place it in a freezer-safe bag. It can be stored in the freezer for up to 3 months. When you’re ready to bake, thaw the dough in the refrigerator overnight, then roll it out, cut out the cookies, and bake as directed.
- What if I don’t have a food processor?
- You can still make these cookies! Whisk the dry ingredients together in a large bowl. Then, use a pastry blender, two knives, or your fingertips to cut the cold butter into the flour mixture until it resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in the vanilla and spices until a dough forms. The rest of the steps remain the same.
- Why did my shortbread spread too much or become too soft?
- This can happen if the butter was too soft, the dough wasn’t chilled sufficiently, or if the oven temperature was too low. Ensure your butter is at room temperature but not melted, chill the dough thoroughly, and verify your oven temperature with an oven thermometer.
Spiced Shortbread Cookies Recipe
Spiced Shortbread Cookies Recipe
Author: Anna
A classic shortbread cookie made with half the sugar and spiced with cinnamon, cloves, and ginger. This recipe makes approximately two dozen cookies, depending on the cookie cutter size. Calorie amount is per cookie.
www.crunchycreamysweet.com
Prep Time: 15 mins
Cook Time: 18 mins
Total Time: 33 mins
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Servings: 8 people
Calories: 118 kcal
Ingredients
- 1 and ½ cup all-purpose flour
- ¼ cup + 2 Tablespoons powdered sugar
- ¼ cup + 2 Tablespoons Stevia In The Raw® Bakers Bag
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup unsalted butter, room temperature
- ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- ¾ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
- ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
Instructions
- Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. Set aside.
- In a food processor or blender, combine flour, powdered sugar, Stevia In The Raw®, and salt. Pulse a few times to combine.
- Add the softened butter, vanilla, cinnamon, cloves, and ginger. Pulse until the dough starts to come together and forms a cohesive mass.
- Place the dough onto a sheet of parchment paper. Gently form it into a smooth ball, then press it down to form a flat disk.
- Cover the dough with another sheet of parchment paper. Using a rolling pin, roll the dough out evenly to a thickness of ⅛ inch.
- Place the rolled dough in the fridge to chill for 10 minutes. This step is crucial for preventing the cookies from spreading during baking.
- While the dough chills, preheat your oven to 325 degrees F (160 degrees C).
- Once the dough is chilled, use your desired cookie cutters to cut out shapes. Carefully transfer the cut-out cookies to the prepared baking sheet.
- Bake for 16 to 18 minutes, or until the cookies are lightly golden brown around the edges and feel dry to the touch.
- Cool the baked cookies on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then carefully transfer them to a wire cooling rack to cool completely.
Notes
To make ahead: After shaping the dough into a disk, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap, then place it in a freezer-safe bag. Store in the freezer for up to 3 months. When ready to use, thaw the dough in the fridge, then roll it out, cut out the cookies, and bake as directed.
Nutrition
Calories: 118kcal | Carbohydrates: 4g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 30mg | Sodium: 74mg | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 355IU | Calcium: 6mg
We hope you love this Spiced Shortbread Cookies recipe as much as we do! It’s a wonderful way to enjoy a classic treat with a mindful twist, perfect for sharing with loved ones or savoring on your own.
If you try this recipe and love it, we’d be thrilled to see your creations! Snap a photo and share it on INSTAGRAM! Tag us @crunchycreamysweet so we can check it out and leave a comment! We love seeing your delicious results.
Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Stevia In The Raw®. All text, photos, and opinions are 100% my own.