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Spiced Shortbread Cookies

Prep Time2 hours 30 minutes
Cook Time12 minutes
Servings: 12 large cookies

Ingredients

For Spiced Cookies:

  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, cold
  • 1/4 cup powdered sugar
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp five spice powder
  • 1/4 tsp cloves powder
  • 1/2 tsp cinnamon
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 tbsp heavy cream or milk

For Sugar Icing:

  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 4 tbsp milk

Instructions

For Spiced Cookies:

  • In the KitchenAid mixer, fix in the paddle attachment. Add the cold butter, powdered sugar, salt, five spice powder, cloves powder, and cinnamon. Beat together on medium-high speed for about 5 minutes.
  • Scrape bowl to gather dough. Then, on low speed, add in flour gradually. Add in extract and milk/cream, and allow dough to mix together.
  • Set the dough on a silicone non-sticking baking mat that is sprinkled with flour. Roll out dough to 1/4 - 1/2 inch thickness. Make sure to rotate or flip dough after every few rolls so it does not stick to mat. Then tightly wrap the dough in plastic wrap and set aside in fridge for 2 hours minimum.
  • When ready to bake, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and then line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
  • Take out the chilled dough and unwrap it. Using your preferred cookie cutter, begin creating cookie cut outs of dough. Transfer them to prepared sheets, about an inch apart.
  • Bake until cookie edges have started to barely brown, about 12-15 minutes. Let cookies cool at room temperature.

For Sugar Icing:

  • In a bowl, mix together the powdered sugar with extract and milk. Using a fork, mix together until it eventually becomes a paste. Pour into a piping bag or ziplock bag with a small corner snipped off.
  • Decorate your cookies with whatever design you would like. Allow the icing to harden completely. Once hardened then stack gently and store in airtight container.