Christmas Cookie Count Down-4 Days to Christmas (Walnut Short Bread)

4 Days to Christmas, Norbert can smell it in the air

 

Or maybe he is smelling the Walnut Shortbread Cookies baking in the oven

Cinnamon Short Bread

2 sticks softened butter

1 cup dark brown sugar

1 egg, separated *

2 cups all purpose flour

2 to 3 TBSP cinnamon

1 tsp salt

1 ½ cups chopped walnuts

Preheat oven to 325 and grease and flour a 9x11x13 inch pan.

Place everything except egg white and nuts in food processor. Pulse a few times, then mix just long enough to form a stiff dough.

Press dough evenly into prepared pan and prick with a fork.   Whisk the reserved egg white until frothy and doubled in volume,  then brush over surface.   Sprinkle the nuts over top and press in slightly.

Bake on bottom rung of oven for 30 minutes.  Cookies tend to brown and harden a bit around edges, so check after about 20 min.  The batter, if ready, should make a small crumb when pierced in center with a toothpick.

Shortbreads can be cut into squares, triangles and/or small rectangles.  Cut before they are completely cool as they harden.