Marbled Shortbread Cookies

This is another of my favourites. Just three ingredients can create such wonderful cookies. Proves, beauty definitely is in simplicity.

Originating from Scotland this one is definitely the favourite of my kids. Just three basic ingredients – flour, butter and sugar. I have added coco powder to one lot of the cookies dough to create the marbled effect. There are a few variations to the recipe. But, this one is the easiest one.

The final product will be buttery with a lovely crunch and cocoa adding a mild bitterness. Kids will love it. My ones definitely do.

Ingredients

Self raising flour – 4 cups
Unsalted butter – 3 cups
Powdered Sugar – 2 cups
Cocoa powder – 1/2 cup
Vanilla essence – 1 tbsp

Method

Put all the ingredients except for the cocoa powder in a mixing bowl.
Rub in the butter and slowly form a dough.
Remember not to over mix.
As soon as the dough starts holding together we will stop working the dough.
Separate out 1/4th of the dough and keep rest aside.
Mix in the cocoa powder with 1/4th of the dough, making sure not to over work the dough.
Knead the plain dough and the cocoa dough together to create a marbled effect.
Divide the dough into 3 to 4 equal parts and roll them into long cylinders around 1.5 inch diameter in the cross section.
Wrap them up in a cling film and rest them inside a refrigerator until firm.
Un-wrap the cling film and slice the cookie dough into 1/2 cm thick discs.
Bake at a temperature of 175°C for approximately 10 to 12 minutes until a very light golden brown colour is achieved.