Christmas Cookies

Yesterday was Christmas cookie baking day. My kitchen (and myself) was liberally floured, and a few M&Ms may have disappeared into things other than the cookie dough. I'm pretty sure I tested the cookie dough before I baked it, too.
My dad and father-in-law are like a lot of men I know. When you ask them what they want for Christmas, they just shrug and say either 'nothing' or 'oh, I don't know'. So helpful.
Anyway, I sent them both cookies a few years ago, and it's become a tradition. I always bake a variety because, well, it's Christmas, right? And because I don't bake much during the year because I really don't need the calories, so this is my time to bake all my favorites, taste a few, then give them away.
This year I baked shortbread cookies (I put some sprinkles in them to make them more festive), chocolate crinkles, holiday M&M cookies, and--my favorite--shortbread with white chocolate chips and dried cranberries.
In fact, I love those shortbreads so much, I'm going to share the recipe with you.
Here you go. It's easy, I promise, and you'll love them.

Cranberry White Chocolate Shortbread Cookies
 
2 cups (4 sticks) butter, softened
4 cups flour
1.5 cups dried cranberries
1 cup sugar
6 oz. white chocolate chips
 
Heat oven to 350.
Beat butter and sugar in large bowl until light and fluffy.
Add flour. Mix well.
Stir in chocolate and cranberries.
Drop rounded tablespoons of dough, 2 inches apart, onto baking sheets. Flatten slightly.
Bake 10-14 minutes or until lightly browned on the edges. They will burn quickly, so watch. As soon as the edges brown slightly, they’re probably done.
Cool 5 minutes on baking sheet, then transfer to wire racks to cool completely.
 
Makes 48 cookies
Can be frozen up to 1 month. Thaw before serving or you’ll crack a tooth. :-)

Spend a minute or two beating the butter and sugar. You'll thank me. And keep an eye on them when baking. They go from lightly golden on the bottom to burned in less than a minute. They do not brown (much) on top (unless you've already passed the burned on the bottom stage, and at that point you just need to start over.).

Merry Christmas everyone! If I had any cookies left over, I'd send you a batch. The mail carrier and internet guy beat you to them.
~Cathy