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    Home » Recipes » Cookies & Bars

    Angela @ BakeItWithLove.com · Leave a Comment

    Shortbread

    Jump to Recipe
    Pin image with text of shrtbread cookies on a glass plate.

    These shortbread cookies are buttery, delicious, and so incredibly soft that they will melt in your mouth! Using only 5 simple ingredients these cookies are perfect for even a beginner baker! Plus, they are so simple to prepare that you can easily enjoy them any time of year!

    Traditional Shortbread Recipe

    Shortbread is an incredibly versatile treat that can be enjoyed as-is or topped with other delicacies like chocolate, icing, nuts, or jam! These cookies are unique as they have a high butter content which makes them wonderfully delicious!

    Their simple recipe and crumbly and buttery consistency make them perfect for every occasion, even the holidays! Not to mention, they are shockingly easy to make!

    Square image of shrtbread cookies on a glass plate.
    These buttery and soft shortbread cookies are the perfect addition to any get-together!
    Jump to:
    • Traditional Shortbread Recipe
    • 🌎 Origin
    • 🥘 Shortbread Ingredients
    • 🔪 How To Make Shortbread
    • 💭 Angela's Tips & Recipe Notes
    • 🥡 Storing
    • ❓ FAQ
    • 🎄 More Holiday Treats
    • 📋 Recipe

    🌎 Origin

    Originally from Scotland, shortbread dates back as far as Medieval times! The variations that we all know and love today originated from a form of Medieval biscuit bread. Mary, Queen of Scots, is commonly associated with shortbread since she had a team of chefs with the ability to work on perfecting the recipe in the 16th century.

    As for the name, 'shortbread' refers to the high amount of butter used in the recipe (in which the term 'shortening' is referring to any kind of fat).

    If baking gets you in the Christmas spirit, be sure to check out all of my holiday baking recipes! There are cookies, cakes, pies, fudge, candy, and so much more to try!

    🥘 Shortbread Ingredients

    Shortbread is a very simple recipe that only uses a handful of ingredients. For the best cookies possible, make sure you use real, high-quality butter!

    Tall image showing shortbread ingredients.
    • Butter - 10 tablespoons of butter. I prefer to use unsalted butter and you'll want to make sure that it is at room temperature.
    • Vanilla - ½ teaspoon of vanilla extract. Use pure vanilla extract for the best flavor output.
    • Confectioners Sugar - ½ cup of confectioners sugar (also called powdered sugar).
    • Salt - ½ teaspoon of salt. If you are using salted butter, you can leave this out.
    • Flour - 1½ cups of all-purpose flour that has been spooned, leveled, and sifted.

    *Be sure to see the free printable recipe card below for ingredients, exact amounts & instructions with tips!*

    🔪 How To Make Shortbread

    Making shortbread is not difficult at all, just make sure to give the dough adequate time to chill in the fridge! For this recipe, you will need a stand mixer (or a hand mixer with a bowl), your measuring utensils, a baking sheet, and a sharp knife for slicing the chilled dough!

    Depending on the size you make your dough log, you will have about 16 shortbread cookies!

    Prepare The Dough

    Process image 1 showing butter in a mixing bowl.
    Process image 2 showing butter and powdered sugar in a mixing bowl.
    Process image 3 showing butter and powdered sugar creamed together in a mixing bowl.
    Process image 4 showing sifting flour into the creamed sugar and butter.
    Process image 6 showing combined flour.
    Process image 7 showing formed shortbread dough, before chilling.
    1. Cream the butter. Using your stand mixer (or a mixing bowl with a hand mixer), beat together 10 tablespoons of room-temperature butter and ½ teaspoon of vanilla extract.
    2. Add powdered sugar. Mix in ½ cup of confectioners' sugar and ½ teaspoon of salt until well combined.
    3. Mix in flour. Slowly and gradually mix in 1½ cups of all-purpose flour, making sure to scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl, stopping once the flour has been completely incorporated.
    4. Wrap the dough and chill. Press the shortbread dough into the shape of a rectangular prism and tightly wrap it with plastic wrap. Place the wrapped dough into the refrigerator and allow it to chill for at least an hour.

    Bake The Shortbread

    Process image 8 showing formed shortbread dough, after chilling.
    Process image 9 showing sliced shortbread dough.
    Process image 10 showing poking shortbread dough.
    1. Preheat. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with some parchment paper.
    2. Slice the dough. Remove the chilled dough from the fridge and remove the plastic wrap. Using a sharp knife, slice the dough into slices that are about ½-inch thick.
    3. Transfer to a baking sheet. Place the dough slices onto the prepared baking sheet, leaving them space apart by about an inch.
    4. Poke the indentions. Use a fork or skewer to poke indentions onto the top of the cookies. This is crucial for even baking, so don't skip this step!
    5. Bake. Bake in the oven at 350°F (175°C) for 10 minutes, rotating the baking sheet halfway through the cooking time.
    6. Cool. Remove the shortbread from the oven and allow them to cool slightly before transferring them to a wire rack to finish cooling.

    These classic cookies are perfect for any event or occasion! Add them to a gift basket, serve them at Christmas, or make them just because! Enjoy!

    💭 Angela's Tips & Recipe Notes

    • Feel free to make your cookie dough ahead of time! It can be prepared and stored in the refrigerator for up to 1 week (or frozen for up to 1 month). Make sure to tightly wrap the dough in plastic wrap and allow it to thaw just enough to slice it.
    • The indentions on the shortbread can be in any shape or pattern you like! This is a perfect step for the kids to help out with!
    • Spoon and level your flour when measuring to avoid adding too much to your dough!
    • A classic shortbread recipe only includes flour, butter, and sugar in a 3:2:1 ratio (and no eggs, as they lead to too much moisture). This is how you will typically make British, Scottish, and Irish shortbread!
    Wide image of shrtbread cookies on a glass plate.

    🥡 Storing

    If you want to repurpose your leftover shortbread cookies, take a look at my post on what to do with leftover Christmas cookies!

    Keep these tasty cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week.

    To freeze, place your cookies into a zip-top freezer bag and store them in the freezer for up to 3 months. Allow them to come back up to room temperature before serving.

    >>>>See all of my recipes HERE<<<<

    ❓ FAQ

    What's The Difference Between A Butter Cookie And Shortbread?

    Butter cookies contain a higher amount of sugar and are also baked at a higher temperature than shortbread. As a result, the cookies aren't as crumbly as shortbread.

    Why Do You Poke Holes In Shortbread?

    Believe it or not, docking the shortbread (adding the indentions) has more purpose than just customizing the way the cookies look. These holes help the moisture to escape from the shortbread while it is baking, which helps the cookies bake evenly. In fact, this is one of the key components to getting the perfect shortbread cookie texture!

    Why Is My Shortbread Dough Crumbly?

    If your dough is too crumbly, there may be a few reasons why. First of all, make sure that you spoon and level your flour so that you aren't adding too much.
    Additionally, using real butter is ideal (as the fat content can impact the moisture content). AND, European butter is best. It has the highest fat content you can get in most butter brands.

    Tall image of shrtbread cookies on a glass plate.

    🎄 More Holiday Treats

    • Christmas Fudge - This quick and effortless fudge is topped with festive Christmas sprinkles for a simple holiday treat!
    • Eggnog Creme Brulee - A rich custard filling and a crisp caramelized coating make up this stunning dessert!
    • Crockpot Christmas Crack - Using your crockpot for these chocolate and peanut butter clusters makes this recipe extra simple!
    • Sticky Toffee Pudding - Moist spiced cake is topped with a sticky and sweet homemade toffee sauce!
    • Nutter Butter Snowmen - A perfect activity for the kids, these Nutter Butter snowmen are absolutely adorable!
    • Jamaican Black Cake - Dried fruit is soaked in rum and then into a spice cake for this flavorful twist on fruit cake!

    Do you love a recipe you tried? Please leave a 5-star 🌟rating in the recipe card below and/or a review in the comments section further down the page.
    Stay in touch with me through social media @ Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter! Don't forget to tag me when you try one of my recipes!

    📋 Recipe

    Square image of shrtbread cookies on a glass plate.
    Print Recipe Leave A Comment
    Love This Recipe?Click On A Star To Rate It!
    5 from 3 reviews

    Shortbread

    These shortbread cookies are buttery, delicious, and so incredibly soft that they will melt in your mouth! Using only 5 simple ingredients these cookies are perfect for even a beginner baker! Plus, they are so simple to prepare that you can easily enjoy them any time of year!
    Author | Angela
    Servings: 16 servings
    Calories: 120kcal
    Prep 5 minutes
    Cooking 10 minutes
    Chill Time 1 hour
    Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes
    Pin Recipe Share on Facebook

    Ingredients
     

    • 10 tablespoon butter (unsalted, softened at room temperature)
    • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
    • ½ cup confectioners sugar
    • ½ teaspoon salt (omit if using salted butter)
    • 1½ cups all-purpose flour (spoon and leveled, sifted)

    Instructions

    • Using your stand mixer (or a mixing bowl with a hand mixer), beat together the room-temperature butter and vanilla extract.
      10 tablespoon butter, ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
    • Mix in the confectioners' sugar and salt until well combined.
      ½ cup confectioners sugar, ½ teaspoon salt
    • Slowly and gradually mix in the all-purpose flour, making sure to scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl, stopping once the flour has been completely incorporated.
      1½ cups all-purpose flour
    • Press the shortbread dough into the shape of a rectangular prism and tightly wrap it with plastic wrap. Place the wrapped dough into the refrigerator and allow it to chill for at least an hour.
    • Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with some parchment paper.
    • Remove the chilled dough from the fridge and remove the plastic wrap. Using a sharp knife, slice the dough into slices that are about ½-inch thick.
    • Place the dough slices onto the prepared baking sheet, leaving them space apart by about an inch.
    • Use a fork or skewer to poke indentions onto the top of the cookies.
    • Bake in the oven at 350°F (175°C) for 10 minutes, rotating the baking sheet halfway through the cooking time.
    • Remove the shortbread from the oven and allow them to cool slightly before transferring them to a wire rack to finish cooling.

    Equipment You May Need

    Baking Sheet
    KitchenAid Professional 600 Stand Mixer
    Measuring Cups

    Notes

    • Feel free to make your cookie dough ahead of time! It can be prepared and stored in the refrigerator for up to 1 week (or frozen for up to 1 month). Make sure to tightly wrap the dough in plastic wrap and allow it to thaw just enough to slice it.
    • The indentions on the shortbread can be in any shape or pattern you like! This is a perfect step for the kids to help out with!
    • Spoon and level your flour when measuring to avoid adding too much to your dough!
    • A classic shortbread recipe only includes flour, butter, and sugar in a 3:2:1 ratio (and no eggs, as they lead to too much moisture). This is how you will typically make British, Scottish, and Irish shortbread!
    • To store: Keep these tasty cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week.
    • To freeze: Place your cookies into a zip-top freezer bag and store them in the freezer for up to 3 months. Allow them to come back up to room temperature before serving.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 120kcal (6%) | Carbohydrates: 13g (4%) | Protein: 1g (2%) | Fat: 7g (11%) | Saturated Fat: 5g (31%) | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.3g | Cholesterol: 19mg (6%) | Sodium: 129mg (6%) | Potassium: 15mg | Fiber: 0.3g (1%) | Sugar: 4g (4%) | Vitamin A: 219IU (4%) | Calcium: 4mg | Iron: 1mg (6%)
    Did you try this recipe? Rate it below!I can’t wait to see your results! Mention @bake_it_with_love or tag #bake_it_with_love!
    best shortbread recipe, Christmas Cookies, cookie, easy shortbread cookie recipe, How To Make Shortbread Cookies, shortbread, shortbread cookies, shortbread ingredients, what do i need to make shortbread
    Course Christmas Cookies, cookies, Cookies & Bars Recipes
    Cuisine English, Scottish
    author profile photo
    Angela @ BakeItWithLove.com

    Angela is an at home chef that developed a passion for all things cooking and baking at a young age in her Grandma's kitchen. After many years in the food service industry, she now enjoys sharing all of her family favorite recipes and creating tasty dinner and amazing dessert recipes here at Bake It With Love!

    bakeitwithlove.com/about/
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    Hi there, I'm Angela! I am an avid vintage cookbook collector, recipe creator, animal lover, and total foodie. I love sharing recipes that are new, fun, and creative as well as great classic recipes just like my Grandma used to make!

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