Shortbreads are traditionally a Christmas cookie that blends butter, sugar, and flour to make a rich and delicate tasting cookie (biscuit). They contain only a few ingredients so it is imperative to use a good quality butter and never use margarine. Shortbread dough is very versatile and while delicious plain,you can make them more flavorful by adding chocolate chips, instant espresso powder, finely chopped orange or lemon zest or dried cranberries.

The texture of shortbread can also be changed by replacing 1/4 cup (35 grams) of the flour with rice flour to give them a slightly crunchy texture. Or, for a more delicate tasting shortbread with a melt-in-your-mouth texture, replace 1/2 cup (70 grams) of the flour with cornstarch (corn flour). Shortbreads can be cut into various shapes using your favorite cookie cutter, baked in a tart pan, or else as fingers. If you like, sprinkle the baked cookies with granulated white sugar or dip the ends of the shortbread in melted chocolate. The variations are endless but all produce a wonderful tasting cookie that is perfect any time of the day. (Source:Joy of Baking)



Ingredients
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup rice flour or Corn Flour ( I used Rice Flour this time)
1/2 cup sugar
2 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup butter (no substitutes)
1/2 cup finely snipped dried cranberries

Directions

1. Heat oven to 325F with a rack in the centre. Whip butter, sugar and vanilla in the bowl of a free-standing mixer. Add flour and cornstarch/rice flour and salt in batches and beat until all are combined, but not too creamy. Stir in cranberries.
   
2. Pat dough evenly into a 9" x 17" cookie tray or lay a parchment paper on the tray. Bake until just beginning to turn golden, about 20 - 25 minutes. Place pan on cooling rack until cool enough to touch, about 15 minutes. Using a 1 ½" - 2" heart cookie cutter, cut out cookies, removing from cookie sheet and leaving to cool completely on cooling rack. Use a paring knife to trim stray bits of cranberry from edges.
   
3. Since the dough is cooked and you can't re-roll the stray bits, you'll just have to eat them.