Coffee Shortbread Cookies Mix in a Jar

These cookies are especially good with ice cream. They're delicately flavored with coffee and not too sweet!

Ingredients

• 1 1/3 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 2/3 cup confectioners sugar
• 1 1/2 tablespoons instant coffee*

Instructions

1. Layer the ingredients into a pint-size jar.
2. Attach the following recipe on a gift tag.

Coffee Shortbread Cookies

Empty contents of coffee bag into a small custard cup or ramekin. Pour 1 tablespoon boiling water into a measuring spoon, then immediately pour it over the coffee. Stir with a spoon to dissolve the coffee. Cool for 5 minutes.

In a bowl, cream 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter (at room temperature) with 1 teaspoon vanilla extract. Blend in the dissolved coffee. Empty the contents of the jar into a bowl and mix to blend well. Blend the dry mix, about one-third at a time, into the butter-coffee mixture until evenly mixed. Divide the dough in half. Place each half on a sheet of wax paper and shape into cylinders about 1 1/2 inch in diameter. Wrap them in the wax paper and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, or up to 2 days.

When ready to bake, heat the oven to 325 degrees F.

Using a serrated knife, slice the cookies about 1/4 to 1/3 inch thick and place them on ungreased baking sheets. Bake for 25 minutes, or until the tops feel firm to the touch. Transfer the cookies to a rack and cool to room temperature. Dredge the cooled cookies in confectioners sugar if you like. Store in an airtight container.

Notes

* Place in a small zip-top bag and place atop sugar.