Day 1: Whipped Shortbread

Welcome to the 12 Days of Cookies! Today is the first day for our 2012 cookie extravaganza, and we bring to you cookies made by Sue & Gail from the Rosa M. Harvey Middleton & Area Library. According to Sue, these are tried and true and will melt in your mouth.Their cookies are making their way to the Berwick Library today, so stop in and have a taste! Don't forget, you can play, too! Click here to see how your cookies could win you a gift card.

The recipe, from Company's Coming: Most Loved Cookies by Jean Pare

Whipped Shortbread

1 cup butter (not margarine), softened
1/2 cup sugar
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 cup cornstarch

18 Maraschino cherries, halved and blotted dry (optional)

Beat butter and sugar in a medium bowl for about 5 minutes until light and creamy.

Combine flour and cornstarch in a small bowl. Add to butter mixture in 2 additions, mixing well after each addition until no dry flour remains.

Drop, using 1 Tbsp. for each, about 2 inches apart onto ungreased cookie sheets.

If desired, put 1 cherry half in the centre of each cookie. Bake in 375 F oven for about 12 minutes until edges are just golden. Let stand on cookie sheets for 5 minutes before removing to wire racks to cool. Makes about 3 dozen.