Sometimes we need to bring extraordinary to our lives. These fun and easy mushroom-shaped shortbread cookies will do just that without a risk. The best part about food is making people and these sweet button mushrooms will definitely put a smile on everyone's face.
I made these cute mushroom shortbread cookies months ago and even gave you a sneak peek in my behind the scenes post but then completely forgot about those photos. FYI: the cookies don't contain mushrooms! They have almost fallen between the cracks but luckily I got sick and found them.
I mean, luckily I found them.
What started out as a sore throat two weeks ago has progressed into a full dragon living in my chest, robbing me of my voice, and spitting fire all night long. I am sick and tired of being sick and tired and not being able to see my granddaughters.
This has got to stop!
So finally, I decided to ignore the dragon, cheer myself up with something fun (like finding out what I would look like if I were a man) and maybe even get productive for a change. First things first I attempted yoga...in bed...with my dog beside me. I stretched, she stretched. That was the extent of it. Only one of us wagged her tail.
Wasted an hour on this app. Am I handsome or what?
After hours of fiddling around and losing myself in meaningless stories on the Internet, all while suppressing the dragon (I'm good at multitasking), I finally got up to make lunch.
On the menu:
The Russian version of a mushroom dish I love that I was also going to share with you. But alas, the Russian version needs cheese and I was out of cheese. Needless to say, you and the Russian Nation will have to wait before I share that recipe (Update: the Russian mushroom recipe is published).
Anyhow, I went back to feeling sorry for myself and got immersed into the Internet once again.
Only this time I visited blogs I follow to see what they've been up to. I regularly visit He Needs Food for photography inspiration because I adore John's style. John is a former chef, an Australian of Croatian descent - another reason I'm drawn to his blog. His recipes are a mix of the two worlds plus everything in between.
Once on his blog, I immediately remembered my mushroom cookies and went on a search of my photos. You see, it is John's post of mushroom cookies that inspired me to share my own version with you in the first place.
I've never seen them styled and photographed in such a way that makes you want to reach into your screen and pick one (and I've seen and eaten many of these cookies in my life). He's simply amazing!
Mushroom Shortbread Cookies
[bctt tweet="#Cookies don't have to be boring. Shape them into #mushrooms and watch them disappear! " username="via all_thats_jas"]
Don't you just love how adorable these mushroom shortbread cookies look? My granddaughter refused to try them thinking I was tricking her into eating real mushrooms. More for grandma, ha!
What I love about them, besides how fun and easy they are to make, is that you can adjust the flavor to your liking. Now to think of it, I should've added sage or rosemary as I did in my lemon sage shortbread cookies. It would make more sense. Oh, well...You get the idea.
Now excuse me while I go tame my dragon with these sweet mushrooms.
Ingredients:
Makes 40-46
- 2 sticks unsweetened butter, softened
- 1 cup powder sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 teaspoon almond extract
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 2 tablespoons cocoa powder
- 2 tablespoons superfine sugar (optional)
~ Free Tip ~
Add lemon zest and vanilla instead of almond extract, or add herbs like sage or rosemary for a sweet/savory version. Serve on a bed of "dirt" - crushed Oreo cookies.
Directions:
- With an electric mixer, beat the butter and sugar until creamy. Add eggs and almond extract and beat shortly until combined.
- Stir in flour, cornstarch, and baking powder and mix or knead until soft dough forms. The dough should not stick to your hands. Add more flour if necessary.
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Using a tablespoon, take a small amount of dough and roll between your hands into a ball. Place on a large parchment paper-lined baking pan or nonstick cookie sheet.
- Here's the trick to the mushrooms: Using the top of a glass bottle without the cap, dip the top into water then into cocoa powder. Gently press into each ball of dough and remove carefully.
- Bake in preheated oven for 12-15 minutes. Oven temperatures vary, so keep your eye on the cookies so they don't burn. Roll tops of cookies in the fine sugar, if desired.
Fun and Easy Mushroom Shortbread Cookies
Ingredients
- 2 sticks unsweetened butter softened
- 1 cup powder sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 teaspoon almond extract
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 2 tablespoons cocoa powder
- 2 tablespoons superfine sugar optional
Instructions
- With an electric mixer, beat the butter and sugar until creamy. Add eggs and almond extract and beat shortly until combined.
- Stir in flour, cornstarch, and baking powder and mix or knead until soft dough forms. The dough should not stick to your fingers. Add more flour if necessary.
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Using a tablespoon, take a small amount of dough and roll between your hands into a ball. Place on a large parchment paper-lined baking pan or nonstick cookie sheet.
- Here's the trick to the mushrooms: Using the top of a glass bottle without the cap, dip the top into water then into cocoa powder. Gently press into each ball of dough and remove carefully.
- Bake in preheated oven for 12-15 minutes. Oven temperatures vary, so keep your eye on the cookies so they don't burn.
- Roll tops of cookies in the fine sugar, if desired.
Notes
Nutrition
Pin it: Fun and Easy Mushroom Shortbread Cookies
See this recipe featured at Grammy's Grid, Sizzling Towards 60 & Beyond, Love My Big Happy Family, and So What Now What.
Hi! Can I share your recipe on my start-up's instagram page! We work on developing mushroom-based meat alternatives, but our Instagram page features everything related to mushrooms and food systems. You can check it out @mycovation_ if you'd like.
Hi Rachel, thanks for asking. I don't mind if you share a photo and link back to my handle @all_thats_jas
However, these cookies are not made with mushrooms - they're just shaped to look that way, so I'm not sure how they'd fit with your mission statement. 🙂
These look delicious, and they're so cute. I love the arrangement on the recipe card. These would be great at a Fairy Garden party. Thanks for sharing on Sunday's Best.
That's a great idea! Thanks!
Congrats Jas! Your post was featured at the #BloggingGrandmothersLinkParty. See here: http://grammysgrid.com/blogging-grandmothers-link-party-16/
Thank you so much, Dee! You made my day 😀
Love this idea. So creative, so fun, and such a good talking point if taking them somewhere.
Thanks, Chris! I totally agree 🙂
Thank you!
What a cute idea Jas and they look great! thanks for sharing with us at #BloggingGrandmothersLinkParty. I've shared on social media.
Thank you much, Sue!
These are so cute and I just know they are tasty as well. Thank you for linking up at the #BloggingGrandmothersLinkParty. I shared this post.
Thanks, Clearissa!
Those are awesome. I thought they were real mushrooms in the pic!! Thank you for sharing at #BloggingGrandmothersLinkParty
Yay, I tricked you 😀 LOL. Thanks, Lori!!!
Your cookies are amazing! Hope you are having a fantastic week and thanks so much for sharing with us at Full Plate Thursday. We will look forward to seeing you again real soon!
Miz Helen
Thank you! Have a great weekend.
How cute, looks like a little mushroom garden, very unique! Thank you Jas for linking up at the #BloggingGrandmothersLinkParty. I shared this post.
Thank you! 🙂
These cookies are adorable!! Thanks for sharing at: #BloggingGrandmothersLinkParty#15 .
Thank you!
How fun. The cookies sound wonderful, and the photography is great. I hope you are feeling better soon. Thanks for linking up at #BloggingGrandmothersLinkParty. I have shared this post on social media.
Thank you, Christie!
These are just so darn cute and I love the presentation!
Thank you, Sandra! 🙂
What a cute idea! Thanks for sharing on the What's for Dinner link up!
Thank you!
Jas - ok I will admit, I started reading your post and I kept looking at the picture thinking why in the world would anyone put mushrooms in their cookie recipe - but them I realized you made them look like mushrooms - boy oh boy did you fool me - they are so realistic looking - what an amazing job! WOW and the recipe sounds yummy too... Thanks for linking up with #TuneInThursday last week. Hope to see you tomorrow too.
LOL Debbie, that would be disgusting, wouldn't it?
I love shortbread cookies! I probably would have shied away from them like your granddaughter too though, lol Thanks for sharing at #HomeMattersParty
Ha ha, Emily! It's all about keeping more for myself (*evil laugh)
These are so cute and totally creative! Love them! Pinned to share.
Thank you, Laurie! Appreciate it 😀
They are cute, adorable and pinned!
I really thought you had thrown read mushrooms over bread, until I read the whole thing. XD
Hope you are feeling better now (and I laughed so much about the yoga part, lol!)
Thank you so much, Dione! Could be a good trick for April's Fools day, right?
And, I am feeling better, thanks! 😀
Those cookies are so cute! I hope you feel better soon, Jas. Nothing worse than a cold when the weather is beautiful.
xo,
rue
Thank you, Rue! The temps are in the mid-forties here so that makes it easier, I guess. Hope your weekend was wonderful!
Begone nasty dragon, leave the nice man, errmmm lady alone.
Aww Jas, I hope you feel better soon, but I'm real glad you shared these. My daughter isn't too keen on mushrooms. She'll eat them at gun point, but I swear she spits them out as soon as I'm not looking 😉 She does however love her shortbread and Oreos so these may just change her mind.
Thanks, Michelle! I'm feeling much better (it was about darn time).
Just serve these one day without telling your daughter what they are and see how she does. Wish I thought of turning my camera on when I offered them to my granddaughter. it was a Kodak moment, lol. She did try them eventually and, of course, loved them.
These are adorable! Perfect to because my sister hates mushrooms so she won't want to steal them. Haha more for me! The perfect snack in disguise
Lol, snack in disguise! That's exactly what it is 😀
Gah...these are just too cute! I would love to use these to decorate a woodsy chocolate cake in the future. Just gorgeous!
They would be perfect on a woodsy chocolate cake, ha! Thanks, Colleen. Enjoy your weekend!
First of all, my compliments on these stunning photos of cookies! You almost fooled me. I have never come across this receipe, they are looking just like real mushrooms. Oreo crumbs make excellent dirt, ha! And your man like photo is not bad either, lol. If you don't have a brother, that's how he is supposed to look like 😉 Thanks for the receipe, pinned to try! Hope you are feeling better very soon. Many greetings from Croatia.
Thank you so much, Ana! I really appreciate it 😀
I do have a brother and he looks nothing like that, ha ha. Maybe if I had a twin brother... Pozdravi more od mene - nedostaje mi <3
I hope the dragon moves on soon! I was wondering how you made these cuties and it looks much easier than I had imagined! I've never seen anything like them and now I want to make a batch!
Thanks, Carlee, feeling better already 🙂 Yep, they're super easy to make and you get lots of them too. I think I'll cut the ingredients in half next time unless I'm making them for the cookie swap. Have a super weekend!
Jas, I hope you are feeling better soon. This change of weather so many people are sick. These little shortbread cookies are so darn cute and creative. Love the idea of the bottle to make the cap. In regards to your before and after photo I much prefer the before... lol This is the second time I tried to sign up for e-mail posts. Can you please check to see if it went through if you are feeling up to it? Take Care of yourself!
Bobbi, thank you! I prefer the before photo too, lol. What email address are you using to sign up so I can check if it's there? Also, are you receiving an error message? My subscribers are growing so maybe my emails are going to your junk folder. 🙁
These are SO cute; I think my little Amy (my "Practice Grand'') would love them! I'll bet that the bottle imprint would be her favourite part, so I can see us making them together after naptime.
You have a practice grand? How fun 🙂 Let me know how they turned out!
Oooooh! This mushrooms I would certainly eat. Love the creativity!
So sucky that you've got all that dragons, Jas. 🙁 hope you get well soon. I hv to say that i love your style of yoga. As for you being a man....hmmmm...i prefer the feminine you.
I'm getting better, thanks Ann! As far as the masculine me, I prefer myself as me in every way, lol. I fear people think I'm playing with the idea to change gender. I assure you - I AM NOT! 😀
Love these shortbread cookies! The prettiest presentation. You crack me up with your experiment on what you would look like as a man:) Now I need to try this app...:) Too funny!
Oh, Milena, I had the most fun with the app sending altered photos of and to all family members. We had a good laugh for sure. It also makes you look young/old and adds smiles. Thanks for stopping in 😀
The cookies sound delicious. I have to admit, when I saw the title of your post, my first thought was in line with your granddaughter's take on it. 🙂 I thought, surely not. Who would ruin delicious shortbread cookies by adding mushrooms? The name was definitely an attention grabber! I hope you start feeling better soon, Jas. Oh, and the face swap-nah!
I should've posted this on April 1st, ha! Have a great weekend ahead, Beverly!
Jas these are absolutely adorable. I just started a diet because things were not going well here. But I love these so much I pinned them for when I lose at least a few pounds. The only way to get serious was to cut out all desserts. Sob sob! I hope you have tamed that dragon by now and are up to your old tricks. And stay away from the internet. 😉
Thank you, Mary! I hear you as far as cutting out sweets goes. I gave them up for lent and have noticed a difference but now I'm making up for it, lol. There's actually only one diet I had success with losing the most weight and the best part is you don't have to give anything up. I should start it again. (and stay far away from the Internet, lol) 😉