Uncle Bill's Whipped Shortbread Cookies

Ingredients

• 1 cup butter, softened
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup icing sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (optional)
• 1/4 cup red maraschino cherry
• 1/4 cup green maraschino cherry

Directions

1. 1

   Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

2. 2

   In a mixing bowl and using an electric mixer, combine butter, flour, icing sugar and vanilla extract; mix until mixture is a smooth consistency.

3. 3

   Prepare cookie sheets with parchment paper.

4. 4

   Spoon out dough onto parchment lined cookie sheets by teaspoonfuls or by tablespoons for larger cookies, spacing about 2 inches apart.

5. 5

   Cut maraschino cherries into quarters and place one piece in the middle of each cookie, alternating with red and green cherries.

6. 6

   Bake in preheated 350 F oven for 15 to 17 minutes or until bottom of cookies are lightly browned, DO NOT OVERBAKE.

7. 7

   Remove from oven and let cool on cookie sheet for about 5 minutes.

8. 8

   Transfer onto wire racks to finish cooling.

9. 9

   Store in a container with a lid and separate each layer with wax paper.

10. 10

    NOTE: If you wish to add some flavor to the cookies, add 1 teaspoon of pure vanilla extract or almond extract.

11. 11

    Use sprinkles, half an almond or half a cashew or chocolate to the top of the cookies before baking.

12. 12

    A thumbprint in the cookie, filled with your choice of jam is very tasty.

13. 13

    It has been suggested that the cookies be refrigerated for at least 1/2 hour before baking for a different texture.