Areias (Sand cookies)

Areias take their name from the Portuguese word areia which translates to sand.The perfect name, for these delicate, crumbly, melt-in-the-mouth cookies.  They are very much  like a shortbread, made with three ingredients, and no rising agent. When you mix up the dough, it should be almost like a wet sand, hence the name. They are the perfect sweet treat to share with your family, and they’re delightful paired with a cup  of  tea.

Ingredients
300g All Purpose flour (sifted)
200g Butter/ Margarine (room temperature)
100g  Sugar

Rind from 1 lemon/ orange

1/2 cup sugar+ 1 tsp. cinnamon for dusting

Preheat oven to 180C/ 350F

Sift flour & sugar into a large bowl.
Using your finger tips, gently rub in  cubed butter and lemon rind, until mixture is crumbly and  resembles sand, but when you squeeze some in your hand it comes together.
Roll together about a tablespoon of  the cookie mix and place on a lined cookie sheet. You can place them close to each other, as they don't spread out.
 Bake cookies for  for 12- 15 minutes.
Do not allow the cookies to get dark, they should be a very light color..

In a small bowl mix the extra sugar and cinnamon, and while cookies are still warm, coat them with this sugar mixture.

I get about 38 cookies.

notes-
- these are easily made in a stand mixer, I use my paddle attachment
-I like to use orange rind for these, it pairs really well with the cinnamon coating.
-Butter will give you a better flavor, but in a pinch use margarine.
- Chill for your 10-15 minutes before baking, if you find your kitchen is warm, or the dough is to soft from the heat of your hands.
-I have found that I get the best "sandy" result, when I use a cookie scoop for these, just pressing the dough into the scoop, and then just placing them on the cookie tray.
- These are a great cookie to make with little helpers.