Cranberry Citrus Cut-out Cookies

Cranberry Citrus Shortbread Icebox Cookies
Makes about 4 dozen

1 C unsalted butter, room temperature
3/4 C icing sugar
2 tsp vanilla extract
1 TBSP finely grated lemon zest
1/2 C chopped dried cranberries
2 C all-purpose flour
1/4 tsp baking powder
Pinch of salt (orig recipe did not give a measurement but included salt into the ingredients so amount is a guestimate)

Beat butter with a mixer on medium speed until creamy and smooth, about 2 minutes. On low, gradually add the powdered sugar, beating until smooth. Add vanilla, zest and dried cranberries and beat until combined. Reduce speed to low.

Mix flour, baking powder and salt. Gradually add flour mixture to butter beating at a low speed until blended.

At this point in time you can either make rolled, cut-out cookies or refrigerator cookies.

CUT-OUT COOKIES: I roll mine out to 1/4" thickness between two sheets of waxed paper and then I put in the fridge for 20-30 minutes, at which time I remove from the fridge and cut out into shapes and bake at 350F for 12-15 minutes.

REFRIGERATOR COOKIES: Form dough into 2 logs, each about 1 1/2 inches in diameter; wrap in parchment, and refrigerate 1 hour (or up to 3 days).

When ready to bake, preheat the oven to 350F/175C. If the logs are frozen, let the logs stand at room temp for 10 minutes. Remove parchment. Slice logs into 1/4-inch-thick rounds, and space about 1 inch apart on baking sheets lined with parchment.

Bake until pale golden, about 12 minutes. Let cool.

Cookies can be stored in an airtight container for up to 1 week... that is if they last that long!

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The above recipe has been edited from it's original post on a website called Keeping the Christmas Spirit Alive 365. For some reason this page is blocked on Facebook as being offensive and as I'm uncertain if I'll always have access to this recipe, I've made a couple modifications (as it was poorly written) and have posted it here.  I love this recipe and the cookies are so yummy and are especially beautiful at Christmastime.