Classic Shortbread Cookies with Flavor Variations

Ingredients

• 1 cup (8 ounces) salted butter, room temperature (but not too soft)
• 1 cup confectioners’ sugar
• 2 teaspoons Mary’s Cognac Barrel-aged Vanilla Extract or 1 vanilla bean (split lengthwise, scrape out the seeds and set them aside)
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• Add one or more of the following flavors to make my shortbread your own!
• ¼ teaspoon almond extract
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• ½ teaspoon ground cardamom
• ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1½ teaspoons finely grated lemon, lime, or orange zest
• 1 teaspoon orange blossom water (added with the butter)
• Anise oil or anise seeds to taste
• 3 tablespoons poppy seeds
• ½ cup finely ground roasted nuts (added with the flour)
• ½ cup finely chopped dried cranberries