Mama's Shortbread Cookies

This is my mom's go-to cookie recipe for every holiday and occasion.  They are easy to make, don't need eggs, and can be modified easily to fit the season by mixing in or adding on top sprinkles, chips, nuts, or candy.  Most important?  They are melt-in-your-mouth good!

Today I made the traditional short-bread dough and added mini chocolate chips. I dropped them onto the stone using my smallest scoop. Perfect little munchies for my girls' classes at church tonight. :)

MAMA'S BASIC SHORTBREAD DOUGH

Ingredients
4 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1 lb butter (4 sticks)
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 tsp vanilla


Directions
Preheat oven to 325F.
Whisk flour, baking soda, and salt together in a large bowl.
Using a mixer, cream butter, sugar, and vanilla to a smooth consistency.
Add flour mixture 1/2 cup at a time to butter mixture - use a low setting on your mixture - until all flour is mixed.
Drop by the spoon/scoopful onto a cookie sheet or baking stone.
Bake for 20 minutes at 325F.

To change things up, stir in any kind of chip, nut, or sprinkle you'd like to use. I mixed in one bag of mini chocolate chips for the batch in the picture. (YUM!) My mama likes to make them with pecans mixed in or with a Hersheys' Kiss pressed into the center. At Christmas time, the kiddos and I make some with colored jimmies mixed in and others we'll roll in sprinkles or jimmies and then bake. Use your imagination!

ENJOY!