Santa's Shortbread Buttons

This basic shortbread recipe could be used for so many different recipes. Here, it's cut into button shaped circles and sandwiched with raspberry preserves for a cute homage to Santa's big button poppin' belly!

 

Image Credit:  http://www.flickr.com/photos/jdn/2725637995/in/faves-76097205@N05/

Ingredients:

1 cup butter
1/2 cup sugar
2 cups flour

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2. In a medium bowl, beat the butter and sugar with an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Stir in flour by hand until the dough is smooth. Extra flour can be added if the dough is not stiff enough to roll out.
3. On a floured surface, roll dough to 1/4 inch thickness and cut into desired shapes with cookie cutters. Place 1 inch apart onto ungreased cookie sheets. For buttons, use a small round cutter- making 2 for each button. Before baking make a "thumb-print" in each top circle ans 4 centered dots. keep the bottom circles as is.
4. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes in the preheated oven, until the edges are lightly browned. Cool on cookie sheets for a few minutes before transferring to wire cooling racks. Sandwich circles together with your favorite jam...make them to your liking. Another option is to also add peanut butter along with the jam!

~MLE