Need A Quick Gift Idea? Here Is A Suggestion

I posted about this before, back in 2015, but for some of my new readers who haven't seen the post before I repeat it here.   If you need a small gift idea for someone who is hard to buy for - for example an elderly relative or someone in a nursing home or a neighbor or teacher, etc. - here is a suggestion for something that will be very appreciated.   It's also a low cost gift, too!  How about filling up a pretty cup or mug with some tasty cookies called Elf Bites!  Food gifts are always a hit.  You can find really nice Christmas themed mugs or cups at thrift stores, garage sales or a dollar store for almost nothing.  Or perhaps you already have a nice mug or cup you can part with.  Wrapped up in pretty Christmas colored plastic wrap with a nice bow, this gift will look so nice!  Elf Bites are tiny little shortbread cookies that aren't too sweet, are somewhat crisp, and have a nice buttery flavor.   Just the name of this cookie is fun.  I bake lots and lots of these every year to give away, or take to gatherings and they are always a hit.  (Especially with children)  My husband and I like to snack on these, too, with a mug of hot cocoa.   They are easy to make and don't take a lot of ingredients.
     Here is the recipe:

 

 

 ELF BITES

A shortbread cookie that is not too sweet

1/2 c. (1 stick) of butter - use ONLY butter

1/4 c. sugar

1/4 tsp. almond extract

1- 1/4 c. flour 

1/4 tsp salt

4 tsp. multi-colored nonpareils

Cream the butter, sugar, salt and almond extract.   Add the flour.  (You might just use your hands at this point).   Work in the nonpareils into the dough with your hands.  Line an 8 inch square pan with wax paper, and pat the dough into the pan and refrigerate until firm.  (usually a couple hours)  Lift out the dough using the wax paper and with a sharp knife on a board, cut into 1/2 slices and then into 1/2 inch squares.  (More or less a half inch, no need to be exact here!)   Place on an un-greased cookie sheet and bake for 15 -17 min in a 325 oven, until the cookies are set and are beginning to slightly brown around the edges.   They won't really get browned, so don't over bake these.   Let them sit on the cookie sheet until they are cool enough to put into whatever container you wish.  

Pat the dough into the pan as evenly as you can.  The only reason to use an 8 x 8 pan is to help shape the dough.

Take the paper and dough out of the pan and pat the edges a little better, making a nice square. 

 

Wrap the dough up in the paper and set in the refrigerator for a couple hours to harden.

 

Then cut the square of dough into about 1/2 inch strips, and cut the strips into little squares.  You will have enough dough to fill up one large cookie sheet.

Here is a pretty Christmas cup filled with the Elf Bites.  My sister gave me this lovely cup for Christmas several years ago, and I just love to drink tea and cocoa out of it during the holidays.  The snowman container my husband Harold gave to me many years ago.  I sometimes fill the snowman up with cookies for us!

 

This recipe makes enough little cookies to fill up a Christmas tin also.   A little tin of these cookies would make a nice gift for a friend, or a hostess gift.

 Please do give these a try!  Happy baking!