Holiday Cookies #1 - Cranberry Coins

I am so embarrassed to tell you this.  You know those cheesy tin cans full of butter cookies you can buy around the holidays?  When I was in sales, I used to go to Costco and load up on these metal in cased cookies and take them to all of my customers as a "Holiday Thank You".  Unfortunately, it was all my budget allowed most years.  But what is so embarrassing is I used to buy myself one.  Oh yeah...I'd buy one little tin can and shove it under my seat and devour it cookie by cookie, letting each one melt in my mouth.  Needless to say, by the time Christmas was over...I hated even the thought of these buttery demons.  But each year, as the Christmas lights go up and temperatures drop...I find myself craving the yummy little morsels.  I decided I wanted to actually try making some.  So last year, I stumbled upon Martha Stewart's recipe for Cranberry Coins and fell in love!!!  They are so buttery and the perfect for the holidays.  I make dozens of them and give them as gifts.  Click here for her recipe.

Preheat your oven to 325 F.
Put two sticks soften butter (And I do mean softened.. I leave the butter out over night) into a bowl.  Add 3/4 cup sifted powdered sugar and 1 teaspoon good quality vanilla extract.  Beat with a wooden spoon until combined and smooth in consistency (If your butter is not soft, you will have very sore biceps.)

Now add 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt and 2 cups sifted flour.  Continue to beat with wooden spoon until combined....

Then add 1/2 cup finely chopped dried cranberries and stir until dough forms...

Divide into 4 sections...

Roll each section into logs....

Wrap each log in parchment paper and secure like a tootsie roll...

Chill in the freezer for about 15 minutes then remove, unwrap, and slice into 1/2 inch size coins....

Place on parchment lined baking sheet and bake for 11 minutes, rotate pan, then bake for an additional 10 minutes.  Let cool on racks and eat up.  YAY!!!!  Buttery, cranberry goodness!!!!!