4-Ingredient Christmas Shortbread Cookies: The Melt-in-Your-Hand Magic
Buttery, tender, and topped with a cherry that makes them feel like Christmas on a plate. These are the cookies everyone reaches for first—so easy, and they taste like holiday memories.
Ingredients: The Perfect 4-Ingredient Ratio
Achieving that melt-in-your-hand texture requires a very precise balance of fat (butter), sweetness (sugar), and low-gluten starch (flour and cornstarch). This ratio is the secret to minimal spread and maximum tenderness.
I. The Core Ingredients:
- **1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened**
- **¾ cup powdered sugar** (Confectioners’ sugar)
- **½ cup cornstarch** (The secret to tenderness)
- **1 ½ cups all-purpose flour**
II. The Festive Finish:
- **Whole Maraschino Cherries** (Patted very dry, for topping)
- **1/2 teaspoon Vanilla Extract** (Highly recommended, though technically a 5th ingredient, it boosts the butter flavor!)
