BUTTERSCOTCH SHORTBREAD

"I love the excitement,the childlike spirit of innocence and just about everything that goes along with Christmas" ~ Hilary Scott

It's the most wonderful time of the year! Christmas is just around the corner and that only means one thing...there will be a lot of baking in our house! This year,I am looking for all the shortcut recipes that I can make ahead of time and store in the freezer so that I can pull them out whenever the time comes.Hefty's freezer bags works perfectly for that. I always freeze cookie dough and it bakes up perfectly whenever I feel the need to munch on one or maybe three or when we have friends stopping by unexpectedly.If you need more information on how to freeze cookies and treats,click here.

I am a huge fan of shortbreads.I have posted a few recipes for it already here on the blog and I've made them so many times over the last few years. December is my most favourite month and it's the most happening month with regards to shopping too! Gifts for my little family, secret santas and family friends. This year is no different. The best part is that we are getting a 2 week break from school,halfway through the month and I am so super excited about it!

Butterscotch is one of my favourite flavours in an icecream and a cake. Infact it's one of Appan's favourite ice cream flavour. Amma makes a lovely butterscotch souffle with cashew praline and it's just awesome! It is one flavour that I haven't seen around much here in the US. I wonder why. This shortbread dough is a dream to work with. So easy,so simple and yet so delicious. I love the recipes I've made so far from Taste of Home.

Cookies like these makes a perfect holiday gift. Just pack some together in a pretty bag and tie it with a bow to complete the look. Do you have a favourite holiday cookie recipe? I always lean towards simple cookies made with butter during this time. I love a plain old Nancuts to the Snowball cookies to the Jam Filled Sandwich cookies. You can find all those recipes here on my blog!

BUTTERSCOTCH SHORTBREAD
Makes 30-32 cookies

Ingredients:
1 cup unsalted butter,at room temperature
1/2 cup confectioner's sugar
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 3/4 cup all purpose flour
1/2 cup cornstarch
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup butterscotch chips,finely chopped
1/2 cup English toffee bits

Method: In a large bowl,beat together butter,sugar and vanilla on high speed until pale and fluffy,about 1 minute. Whisk together flour,cornstarch and salt in a bowl and add it to the butter mixture. Mix well using a hand mixer until it comes together as a dough,10-15 seconds. Gently fold in the butterscotch chips and toffee bits.

Form them into logs over a piece of plastic wrap and wrap them tightly. Put them into gallon sized Hefty Slider Bags and store in the freezer*.

When ready to use,pull the cookie dough out and leave it to thaw on your countertop for 10-15 minutes. Preheat the oven to 350 F and line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.
Slice the cookies into 1/4 inch thickness and place them on the cookie sheet 2 inch apart from each other and bake for 18-20 minutes or until it's golden around the edges and pale brown on top,like in the photographs above. Let it cool on a wire rack and when completely cooled,store them in an airtight container.

*If you want to use them right away, chill the cookie dough for an hour,slice and bake as instructed.

These cookies were irresistible. They are so crisp and delicious. I have never ever seen or tasted a butterscotch shortbread until I made these today. This is definitely going to be made again! We all loved it!

If you want to make your life easier,just print these beautiful designs from Hefty and clip them onto your Hefty slider bags. They will make the treats that you made for your loved ones,extra special!
Don't forget to check out Hefty's page on how to freeze your treats so that they are ready for you,when you want them to be!

MAKE AHEAD HOMEMADE CRANBERRY SAUCE

This time,like everyother time, I am making only a few sides for Thanksgiving dinner since we always do a potluck. With my current situation at home,I am embracing the make ahead recipes like no other.They are my life saver now. This sauce is a breeze to put together and when you can put into Hefty slider bags,it's going to be safe and sound in the freezer. I got this recipe from Hefty's website and it's a good one!

Jobin's Mummy makes a savoury pickle using fresh cranberries and it's just awesome! That's the only time I've had it spicy. For that matter, I have had cranberries only in the sauce from otherwise. I know it's a very good ingredient to bake with but I still have not explored that side of it. These days after all the sweet stuff that we bake in school, I hardly bake anything sweet anymore at home other than the regular chocolate or marble cake. The other day,I was telling Jobin that I might just give up sugar by the time I am done with school! We bake a LOT on a daily basis and bring them all home!

Like I said earlier, this cranberry sauce is so easy to put together. Just dump all the ingredients into one pot and let the heat do it's work and before you even realize, your sauce would be ready for use! I have my sauce ready in slider bags for the main day and all I have to do is to gently reheat it up!

MAKE AHEAD HOMEMADE CRANBERRY SAUCE
Makes about 2 cups

Ingredients:
4 cups fresh or frozen cranberries
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup orange juice
1 teaspoon orange zest
1 teaspoon lemon zest
1 teaspoon lime zest
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Method: Mix all the ingredients together in a pot and bring it to a boil on medium high heat. Reduce the heat to medium-low and cook for 10-12 minutes or until the sauce has thickened. Let it cool to room temperature and freeze them in Hefty slider bags.

When needed, thaw them in the fridge overnight and serve it at room temperature.

For more Thanksgiving ideas visit Hefty's website!