We’re revisiting a popular (and award winning) program at AVRL: The 12 Days of Cookies! From 2011 to 2017, AVRL staff baked and shared cookies with library visitors across the Annapolis Valley for 12 delicious days over the holiday season. Each recipe was a family favourite or a recipe from a cookbook found in the AVRL catalogue. While we are not able to share cookies the same way this year, we can still share the classic recipes for you to try at home!

Originally published on December 9th, 2016

Middleton branch manager Sue Aldred (since retired) made these yummy shortbread cookies from a recipe found in the December 2014 issue of All-Recipes magazine.

Ingredients:

• 1 lb. salted butter
• 1 cup icing sugar
• 1/2 cup cornstarch
• 3 cups white flour
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 tsp vanilla

Whip butter until fluffy. Stir in icing sugar, cornstarch, salt, and flour. Beat on low for one minute. Add vanilla and beat on high for 3 to 4 minutes. Drop cookies by spoonsful 2 inches apart on an ungreased cookie sheet.

I find that I have better results if I bake them for 20 minutes at 300 degrees F. (The recipes calls for baking for a shorter time at 375 but this temperature is too hot.)

Ice with almond icing and decorate with sprinkles or chopped cherries. These freeze very well.

Yield: 4 dozen small cookies.