You could say I’m a Christmas fanatic. We decorate early each year to enjoy the decorations and the warm and fuzzies that come along with the season as long as possible. This year was no exception on the decorating front, but it just hasn’t felt like Christmas, and we are only a few short days away. Given the current state of things, our Christmas not including travel this year, and the festivities being kept low key, I am sure many of you are feeling the same way. The fact that it hit December 20^th and I hadn’t done any baking yet was probably a new record for me. I have filled the past few days with lots of baking and lots of Hallmark Christmas movies. You guys, I live for these movies. They’re predictable, laughable, sweet, and the best part, they’re not crazy long. Give these healthier shortbread a shot and be sure to enjoy them while watching a Christmas movie, and know I am doing exactly the same.

Einkorn Shortbread Cookies

December 23, 2020

Servings: 40 cookies

Difficulty: Easy

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These shortbread hit the spot. They taste like the classic, but they’re adapted to be made with all purpose einkorn flour for better digestibility. Better yet, they’re made in 1 bowl for easy clean up.

By: abbeyverigin

Ingredients

• ¾ cup grass fed butter, softened
• 2/3 cup + 1 tbsp organic cane sugar
• ½ tsp sea salt
• 2 eggs
• 3 cups all purpose einkorn flour

Directions

• Step 1 In a large bowl, cream together the butter and the sugar.
• Step 2 Add in the sea salt and eggs, and beat well to combine.
• Step 3 Add the einkorn flour.
• Step 4 Chill the dough for 10 minutes in the fridge.
• Step 5 Preheat the oven to 350 and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Step 6 Portion the dough into 1.5” balls and place on the baking sheet with 1” space between each.
• Step 7 Using a fork or the bottom of a glass, press down the cookie dough.
• Step 8 Bake for 10-11 minutes until lightly golden.
• Step 9 Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a cooling rack.

Ask me any time of year, and I will tell you winter is my favourite season. That being said, when those words are coming out of my mouth, it is unlikely I have just completed a couple hour stint of shoveling snow, driving on less than stellar roads, or that we are in that in between stage where half the snow has melted and what is left has mixed with dirt, leaving a less than pretty sight. When I am cozy inside with nowhere to be and the world is draped in a soft white blanket, I will confirm that to be true.

In the cold winter months, a mug of something warm tastes even better. Everyone loves a hot mug of hot chocolate, especially when it is filled with whole, real food ingredients. Making your own hot chocolate at home is beyond simple, more of a method than a recipe, really. Why might you want to make your own hot chocolate at home, when there are so many options for hot chocolate mix on the market? Most hot chocolate mixes on the market contain less than stellar ingredients. Refined sugar, milk powders, soy lecithin, artificial flavours, preservatives and more are often found in store bought mixes. These are things that I like to avoid, and by choosing to make my own hot chocolate at home, I can use organic, whole food ingredients which is important to me. Topped off with some organic whipped cream or homemade marshmallows, I promise it will taste better than any mix you can find.

All you need is your milk of choice, cocoa powder, and a little bit of your favourite unrefined sweetener of choice. Raw honey, pure maple syrup, or organic cane sugar all work perfectly. If you prefer a sugar free hot cocoa, organic stevia does the trick. I love to use raw, grass fed dairy for myself, however my husband keeps his dairy intake limited. Unsweetened almond or cashew milk are great, however there is nothing quite like using organic full fat coconut milk for the creamiest hot chocolate. An added bonus of choosing a milk with a higher fat content is that you won’t see the same spike in blood sugar as you would when using a low fat option. Your body and your taste buds will thank you.