It was a delight and pleasure to commemorate the 100th episode of Home + Family on the Hallmark Channel.  I feel so fortunate to be a part of the ‘family.’

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Dean McDermott, Cristina Ferrare, Mark Steines, Andrea Schroder, moi.

To add to the celebration, I brought Brown Sugar Shortbread cookies for the entire cast, crew and guests.  I wanted something sweet, not too heavy, and something I could personalize.  I added gold ‘luster dust’ to the sugar on the edges, in honor of the 100th show.

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These cookies are light, buttery, and have a very slight toffee/caramel flavor, because of the brown sugar.  They are a perfect cookie to make in large batches.  The dough can be prepared one day and baked another.  I often will make a double batch, that way I can keep a log in my freezer, and whip up a sheet of cookies in minutes.

Brown Sugar Shortbread

1 cup butter, softened

1/2 cup brown sugar

2 cups all-purpose flour

coarse crystal sugar

Luster Dust (Optional)

Preheat oven to 325°.

Cream butter and brown sugar, add 2 cups of flour and mix well.

Divide dough in half, and form each portion into logs, approximately 1-1/2” to 2” in diameter. Roll logs in coarse sugar until coated.

Place logs in freezer for 10 to 30 minutes.   Remove from freezer and cut in ¼” slices.

Bake on un-greased cookie sheet for 15 to 22 minutes (depending on thickness), until just barely brown.  Cool completely on a rack.

If using luster dust, add dust to crystal sugar, until the sugar is the desired color.  Or, custom color your sugars using a post found here.

Enjoy, and happy 100th Episode, Home + Family!

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