Easy Shortbread Snowflakes

I usually use my favorite Shortbread recipe for these snowflakes because it’s sturdy enough to stay intact even with all those cutouts. Plus, I always have the few simple ingredients it requires on hand. The combination of European butter and vanilla bean makes this cookie one of the yummiest cookies I make. It’s buttery and light. For the snowflakes, I used a thick vanilla glaze to outline the shape and the “cutouts” and then, while the glaze was still wet, dipped the cookie in big sugar crystals to add sparkle and crunch. See Easy Decorating Technique below for details.

Shapes

Showflakes of all shapes and sizes, some with cutouts that come as part of the cookie cutter, and some that get a little assistance from my assortment of tiny geometric shapes to add the cutouts.

Sizes

Sizes range from mini (almost 2 inches) to large (about 3½ inches). I do have two very large snowflake cookie cutters (about 8 inches), but didn’t use those for this project. By the way, 2½ to 3 inches is my favorite size cookie for decorating and eating.

Cookie Cutters

I love these snowflake cookie cutters because the cutouts are part of the cookie cutter. You have to use a fairly stiff dough, like shortbread dough, when using them, but the results are stunning:

Available from Amazon:
Snowflake Cookie Cutter 3-piece Set

My Own Recipe

This Shortbread recipe was developed over several months in my quest to duplicate the taste and texture of a shortbread cookie from a bakery in Carmel-by-the-Sea that no longer makes the shortbread I remember as a child.

Icing & Decorative Embellishments

Vanilla Glaze for Piping: This glaze/icing dries hard enough that you can stack or package the cookies without damaging the embellishments. I often use it exclusively or in combination with Royal Icing.
 Glaze for Piping Recipe

Cookies

Shortbread: flour, butter, sugar, cornstarch, vanilla extract, salt

Icing & Decorative Embellishments

Vanilla Glaze: sugar, water, corn syrup, food coloring (optional), vanilla bean paste for flavoring

Sprinkles: Big-crystal sugar in white (and sometimes gold) to put the “snow” on the snowflake.

Easy as 1-2-3

This decorating technique is so easy even kids can get in on the fun. I used white glaze and white sparkling sugar for these snowflakes, but you can use royal icing if you prefer and any colors you want. This technique works well on any shape cutout cookie ... hearts for Valentine’s Day, eggs and bunnies for Easter, shells for Summer vacation, and ... well, you get the idea. You can decorate any cookie quickly using this glaze-and-dip technique. You still have to let everything dry for a few hours, but no need to worry about all the more detailed steps it takes to produce a plate of decorated cutout cookies. Pretty and easy? Absolutely!

Plate, Box or Bag?

Box. I gifted many boxes of these delicious shortbread snowflakes to family and friends. I like to package them in a cardboard bakery box with a clear window on top that makes the contents visible to anyone who wants to peek. The dainty shapes sparkle back at you through the window.

Bags. I also gave individual snowflakes as gifts and those I wrapped individually in clear, food-safe bags, secured with a twist tie. This also makes the cookies stackable without causing damage to the decorations. Because the cookies have all those holes in them, they are a bit fragile, but the broken pieces are just as delicious as the whole cookies!

Mailing. I included snowflakes in some of the holiday packages I mailed to my family and friends throughout the U.S. I always send them Priority Mail through the U.S. Post Office. I use the boxes provided by the Post Office and lots of bubble wrap. In almost all cases, the cookies arrive undamaged, although a few people reported a broken cookie or two. Even those were happily eaten. I know the packages are appreciated when they arrive because of the texts I get with all those smiling faces.