Shortbread/gingerbread recipes for Xmas treats to give away

[Jennifer13]

I've decided to do shortbread or gingerbread Xmas themed treats to give away as gifts to our neighbours and DD's preschool friends.

I found this recipe for Shortbread stars with lemon glaze (providing our lemons are ready in time I'll have to find something to use them for!):

Shortbread Stars with Lemon Glaze

SHORTBREAD

2 cups plain flour
2 tablespoons rice flour
200g unsalted butter
1/3 cup icing sugar
1 teaspoon finely grated lemon rind
2 tablespoons lemon juice
Packet of silver cachous
GLAZE

1 cup pure icing sugar
2 tablespoons lemon juice, strained
Yellow or orange food colouring
Method

1.Preheat oven to 180°C and line two biscuit trays with baking paper.
2.Place the flours, butter and sugar into a food processor bowl and, using the pulse action, press the button for 30 seconds or until the mixture is fine and crumbly. Add the rind and juice and process for 20 seconds, or until the mixture forms a dough. Turn out onto a lightly floured surface and knead for 20 seconds or until smooth. Roll out to a 7mm thickness and cut out 6cm star shapes. Bake for 15 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool.
3.To make the lemon glaze, place the icing sugar and lemon juice in a heatproof bowl over a pan of hot water. Stir until smooth. Dip the biscuits face down in the glaze and drain the excess. Dip a toothpick or skewer into the food colouring and draw lines into the icing on the biscuit before it set. Decorate the centres with a silver cachou.
4.The shortbreads should keep for up to 5 days in an airtight container.

Do any of you cooking gurus have other recipes for shortbread or gingerbread you think are better than this? Thanks!

[Trillian]

Ooooohhhhh I like the idea of lemon shortbread. I don't have it handy Jen, but the recipe for Shortbread on the side of the McKenzies Rice Flour box is excellent - I make it a fair bit and was going to do some for the very same thing this year.

[Turkish Delight]

i love shortbread but can't seem to make it properly, the dough spreads in the oven IYKWIM.

I'm out to buy a box of the MacKenzie Rice Flour. Thanks Trill

[Rouge]

I can't remember if it was SFI or the free coles mag, but one of them has a recipe for spiced shorbread cookies, and I am definitely going to give that a go!

My recipe is similar to that on the box, I make mine in 3 sandwich tins every year.