Shortbread Cookies
Posted Dec 22, 2023
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These are the best shortbread cookies – buttery with crispy edges and soft centers. It only takes 6 ingredients to make the most delicious shortbread recipe ever!
Shortbread cookies are a testimony to the fact that there is so much beauty in simplicity.
Recipes don’t have to be complicated to be amazing, and this shortbread recipe is delicious proof.
Six common ingredients come together beautifully to make shortbread cookies that are buttery and perfectly sweet. They have crispy edges and chewy centers and are complete cookie perfection.
Shortbread Cookies Ingredients & Substitutions
- Salted Butter. Unsalted butter can be used in place of salted butter.
- Granulated sugar. I recommend using organic cane sugar or white sugar.
- Egg yolks. There are no substitutes for egg yolks in this recipe.
- Vanilla extract. You can substitute up to ½ teaspoon of vanilla with different flavor extracts such as lemon, orange, peppermint, almond, etc.
- All-purpose flour. For a gluten-free version substitute a 1:1 all-purpose gluten-free flour.
- Fine sea salt. Use fine (not coarse) sea salt. If using iodized table salt, decrease the amount by half.
How to Make Shortbread Cookies
We’ll walk through this shortbread recipe step-by-step, and don’t forget to watch the video!
Begin by beating the butter and sugar for 1 minute, either in the bowl of a standing mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, or in a large bowl with a handheld mixer.
Then, add the egg yolks, vanilla extract, and salt and beat for an additional minute.
Next, add the flour and beat until the mixture begins to clump together (60-90 seconds).
Once the mixture clumps together, gather the dough and roll it into a log that is 2” in diameter (about 16 inches long).
Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and chill it in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour (or up to overnight).
After chilling, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper or a silicone baking mats.
Then, slice the cookie dough into ½ inch thick circles.
Use a Tape Measure
I recommend using a ruler or tape measure to get the measurements exact. This will ensure that the cookies bake evenly.
Then, evenly space the shortbread cookies on the prepared baking sheet.
Once they’re on the baking sheet, bake them in the preheated oven for 11-12 minutes until the cookies look set and the bottom edges just barely start to turn brown.
Let the shortbread cookies cool on the pan for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
Serve
If you are a shortbread purist, you will probably opt to serve them plain. However, you can also add icing or frosting to the cookies if you wish. Here are some suggestions:
- Dip them in chocolate ganache or slather with chocolate buttercream frosting.
- Make them fruity with lemon glaze, lemon frosting or strawberry glaze.
- Make a simple vanilla glaze with 1 cup powdered sugar, 1 Tablespoon milk and ½ tsp vanilla extract.
Store/Freeze
Store shortbread cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days, or in the freezer for up to 1 month.
You can also slice, then flash-freeze the cookie dough. Freeze it in an airtight container then thaw and bake fresh according to the recipe instructions.
Shortbread Cookies Recipe FAQS
Here are some tips to making the best shortbread!
Use high-quality ingredients, especially butter and vanilla extract.
Beat the dough until large clumps form.
Chill the dough before baking.
Do not over-bake. You want them to still be nice and moist.
The difference is that butter cookies also contain almond extract to give them a slightly different flavor. Also, butter cookies have slightly less sugar so the buttery flavor really shines.
Butter should be softened to room temperature.
Yes. This dough must be refrigerated before baking for at least 1 hour, or overnight.
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Shortbread Cookies Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 cup salted butter softened
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- 2 egg yolks
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon fine sea salt
Instructions
- In the bowl of a standing mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, or in a large bowl with a handheld mixer, beat together butter and sugar for 1 minute.
- Add egg yolks, vanilla extract, and salt and beat for an additional minute.
- Add the flour and beat until the mixture begins to clump together (60-90 seconds).
- Gather the dough and roll it into a log that is 2” in diameter (about 16 inches long).
- Wrap in plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour (or up to overnight).
- After chilling, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper or a silicone baking mats.
- Carefully slice the cookies into ½ inch thick circles.
- Evenly space the cookies on the prepared cookie sheet.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 11-12 minutes until the cookies look set and the bottom edges just barely start to turn brown.
- Let cool on the pan for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
Video
Notes
- Salted Butter. Unsalted butter can be used in place of salted butter.
- Granulated sugar. I recommend using organic cane sugar or white sugar.
- Egg yolks. There are no substitutes for egg yolks in this recipe.
- Vanilla extract. You can substitute up to ½ teaspoon of vanilla with different flavor extracts such as lemon, orange, peppermint, almond, etc.
- All-purpose flour. For a gluten-free version substitute a 1:1 all-purpose gluten-free flour.
- Fine sea salt. Use fine (not coarse) sea salt. If using iodized table salt, decrease the amount by half.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Thank you for this recipe, I made these shortbread cookies gluten free and they were scrumptious! I went through 3 other GF recipes and they did not pass the deliciousness test. Since I have made a few things from your site I thought I would try yours and switch out the flour to GF Flour. Next on the GF list is your chocolate cake recipe. Super excited!
I’m so happy you love them, Lisa!!! And it’s great to know they are still delicious gluten-free!
Could you make these in a tray (brownie style)? These look very similar to an english shortbread recipe I’ve made but didn’t include eggs.
Yes, you could bake them in a tray.
Just wondering if there would be anything I could use in place of butter.
I don’t suggest making substitutions for the butter in shortbread. What is your reason for wanting to substitute?
I have a question, if I am going to
use unsalted butter, would I need to add extra salt.
Im new to baking and I’m not sure how the science of it works and do not think I should assume anything at my level. 😊
Thank You
In this recipe I would not increase the salt if you use unsalted butter.