Simple Shortbread Buttons - Aunt Jae

½ cup butter, softened (1 stick)
2 tbsp. granulated sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
1 ¼ cup all-purpose flour
1/8 tsp. salt
¼ cup powdered sugar

1.  Combine butter and sugar until light and fluffy.  Beat in vanilla.  Gradually stir in flour and salt until smooth.  Form into a ball

2.  Place powdered sugar in sugar shaker.  Dust a 15 inch pice of parchment paper with powdered sugar.  Transfer dough onto parchment paper;  shape into an 8 inch log.  Refrigerate 30 minutes.

3.  cut cookies into 2 inch slices.  Place on flat Baking Stone.  Bake 20 – 22 minutes at 350 degrees.  Cool 3 minutes and move to cooling rack.  Cool completely and sprinkle with powdered sugar.

Variations:  For orange shortbread, fold in 2 teaspoons fresh orange zest with flour.  For almond shortbread, fold in 1/3 cup chopped almonds with flour.