Fava’s Winter Blend Shortbread Cookies

This seasonal black tea is known for its delicious citrus flavor perfectly complimented by comforting spices, but did you know that Fava’s Winter Blend also provides the base for your new favorite cookie? This shortbread features only a handful of ingredients and makes for the perfect addition to your afternoon tea this winter!

Ingredients:

• 2 1/4 cups Unsalted Butter
• 8 tbsp Fava’s Winter Blend Black Tea
• 1 cup Sugar, plus a little extra for sprinkling on top
• 1 tsp Pure Vanilla Extract
• 3 1/2 cups All-Purpose Flour
• 1/4 tsp Salt

Directions:

1. Melt butter on medium heat.
2. Stir tea into the melted butter, constantly stirring until tea leaves unfurl and butter changes color, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat, let sit another 5 minutes. Strain, extracting as much butter as possible. Cool to room temperature. (will need 1 1/2 cups of this butter, so add in room temperature butter to mixture if tea leaves soaked too much up.)
3. Preheat oven to 350°F.
4. Mix infused butter & sugar until combined – best with electric mixer with paddle attachment. Add in vanilla.
5. In a separate bowl, sift together flour and salt, then add in the butter-and-sugar mixture. Mix on low speed until the dough starts to come together.
6. Place dough mixture onto surface dusted with flour and shape into flat disk. Wrap in plastic and chill for 30 minutes.
7. Roll dough 1/2-inch thick and cut with 3 in x 1 in cookie cutter. Place onto an un-greased baking sheet and sprinkle with sugar.
8. Bake 20-25 minutes until edges begin to brown. Let the cookies cool, and enjoy!