Chocolate Dipped Shortbread Cookies

Fall is my favorite season. The colors are gorgeous, the flavors are enticing, the weather is nice and fashions are comfortable and stylish.

What I love most about fall is that we try to take every recipe we know and love and for 3 months we try to  incorporate pumpkin into them, someway, somehow. Pumpkin scones, pumpkin pie, pumpkin soup, pumpkin bread, pumpkin tarts, pumpkin ice cream, pumpkin cookies, roast pumpkin, pumpkin butter, pumpkin cream cheese, pumpkin ravioli,.. Okay I'll stop before I get all Forest Gump on you!
I am totally guilty of this!

And of course we use our pumpkins for extracurricular activities too! pumpkin carving is just good old fashion fun! No matter how old you get :)

Earlier this week we hosted a pumpkin carving party with lots of finger foods, and of course cookies.
I made a big old platter of cookies for everyone to enjoy! Some decorated and some just dipped in chocolate. Simple, pretty and tasty!

I am going to share the recipe here in case you want to try these simple shortbread cookies for your next party! I guess there ARE a few fall recipes that don't need pumpkin on the list of ingredients ;)

Harvest Moon Vanilla Bean Shortbread
Adapted from Food.com

Ingredients:
4 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup, cold butter
1 tsp. vanilla bean paste (I always use this)

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350˚
2. In a mixing bowl, combine flour and sugar.
3. With a fork or pastry cutter, cut in cold butter until mixture resembles medium to fine crumbs.
4. Add vanilla bean to mixture.
5. Knead the dough just until smooth and homogenous.
6. Roll out on a lightly floured surface.
7. Cut into desired shapes.
8. Bake for 8-10 minutes, until lightly golden on the bottom.
9. Remove from oven and allow cookies to cool completely before dipping in chocolate (if desired)
10. Melt chocolate or candy melts in the microwave for about 30 seconds stirring as needed. Don't let it scorch! Nothing is worse than wasted chocolate ;)
11. Dip cookies halfway into melted chocolate and gently shake off excess.
12. Place cookies on wax paper and let chocolate set before enjoying.

***Shortbread isn't as easy to work with as sugar cookie dough, so chill it as you need to and don't lose your patience, the melt in your mouth texture is worth it ;) ****

Sorry I didn't take more pictures during the process! I didn't know how yummy they would be!

You can serve them right along side your prettiest decorated cookies for any seasonal party!

Enjoy!

SAP
Flour De Lis