These Simple Shortbread Cookies can be made two ways, both are a delicious easy to make Shortbread Cookie Recipe, a melt in your mouth cookie that you will make year after year. Choose the traditional Shortbread or Brown Sugar version.
Probably the most awaited Christmas Cookies! But to tell the truth I like to make these not just at Christmas Time! They are so good how can you not?
How to Make them
Beat butter until creamy. Then add a little at a time the sifted icing sugar, corn starch, salt and flour.
Move to a lightly floured flat surface and knead until mixture cracks slightly. Pat or roll gently to 1/3″ thickness. Cut out cookies with your favourite cookie cutters.
Place on a parchment paper lined cookie sheets or an un greased non stick cookie sheet and bake.
Be sure you don’t let them brown they should be a very light golden colour when done. Let cool on cookie sheets, then move to a wire rack.
This dough is so easy to work with you don’t even have to roll it out, but you can if you want, just pat to your desired thickness, (I tend to like them thicker, more cookie for the bite you could say).
I love Simple Shortbread Cookies, they practically melt in your mouth. I always had a friend who said that her Brown Sugar Shortbread was the best and made exactly how it should be made with only 3 ingredients, butter, sugar and flour.
But to make her happy I would make her Brown Sugar Shortbread cookies, and I have to admit she did have a good argument, they are pretty yummy. Although I would argue that my Mom made the best cookies and hers had five ingredients. And yes I still stand by my Mom’s.
How to make Shortbread Cookies without a cookie cutter:
With this Shortbread dough you can actually just roll the dough into a log shape, then slice it and bake on a parchment paper lined cookie sheet. I would probably refrigerate the log (before cutting) for about 30 minutes.
Can this Shortbread Recipe be made with a mixer?
If you can’t or don’t want to knead the dough by hand, then yes a stand up mixer using the paddle attachment will work just fine.
I would only knead up to a point, when the dough just starts to come together (or even better, very coarse crumb mixture) and then knead the dough by hand. Completely kneading by machine can make the dough tough and dry.
As a reader Trina, stated “The dough does come together with elbow grease. I wouldn’t add more butter, it just takes kneading and I found that the mixer does not bring it together, you need to get in there with your hands”.
Why use powdered/icing sugar?
Powdered sugar will help keep the cookies soft for longer and it helps to keep the cookies from spreading while baking.
What is the best flour for Cut out Cookies?
Be sure to use a high protein, at least 12%, my flour is about 13%, a low protein flour will cause the cookies to spread, and believe me refrigerating the dough will not help.
Why do you add Cornstarch to Shortbread Cookies?
I have recently discovered that a lot of people add corn starch (my Mom’s fourth ingredient) to cookie and cake recipes, the reason is because it adds softness to the finished cookie or cake.
To add a twist I even topped a couple of big stars with some Nutella and one with jam, then put some crumbled up dough on top.
So grab your favourite Christmas cookie cutters and start cutting, 10-12 minutes in a low oven is all these Melt in Your Mouth Shortbread Cookies need.
More Shortbread Cookies You May Enjoy!
- Easy Chocolate Chip Whipped Shortbread
- Chocolate Hazelnut Shortbread Cookies
- Lemon Cheesecake Squares
- Almond Crescent Cookies
- Coconut Jam Squares
And why is it called Shortbread
According to British Food History – Dating back to the 12th century , shortbread was originally called biscuit bread. These biscuits were made from left-over bread dough that was sometimes sweetened and dried out in the oven to form a hard, dry rusk. This practise took place over the whole of the British Isles, not just Scotland.
How to Store Shortbread Cookies
The baked cookies should be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week. I sometimes store mine in the fridge because I like cold cookies. They will last up to 10 days by storing them in the fridge.
How to Freeze Shortbread Cookies
To freeze the shortbread cookies, place parchment paper in between the layers of the completely cooled cookies this prevents them from sticking together when they are in the containers for freezing, or you can also place the baked cooled cookies on a cookie sheet and freeze them, then move the frozen cookies to either airtight bags or containers. Baked Shortbread Cookies will last up to a month in the freezer.
To thaw the cookies be sure to remove the frozen cookies from the bags or containers (this way no condensation will form) and let them thaw at room temperature. In our house no one waits for them to thaw!
I hope you try these Simple Shortbread Cookies, either my Mom’s or the Brown Sugar Shortbread or why not both, and be sure to let me know, which Shortbread Cookie you prefer. Enjoy!
Simple Shortbread Cookies - Two Ways
Ingredients
MY MOM'S SHORTBREAD
- 1 cup butter softened (225 grams)
- ½ cup icing / powdered sugar (60 grams)
- ½ cup corn starch (68 grams)
- 1 pinch salt
- 2 cups all purpose flour (260 grams)
MY FRIEND'S SHORTBREAD
- 1 cup butter softened (225 grams)
- ½ cup brown sugar (lightly packed) (90 grams)
- 2 ½ cups all purpose flour (325 grams)
Instructions
- Pre-heat oven to 325° (160 celsius).
My Mom's Shortbread. Line 2 cookies sheets with parchment paper.
- Beat butter until creamy about 3 minutes. Sift icing sugar, corn starch, salt and flour 4 times (I know, but it is worth it). Add the dry sifted ingredients to the creamed butter a little at a time and work in with a wooden spoon as long as possible*, then move to a lightly floured flat surface and knead until the dough cracks slightly.
- Roll gently with a lightly floured rolling pin to 1/3" (1 cm) thickness or pat to desired thickness with the palm of your hand. Cut out with Christmas cutters and place on the prepared cookie sheets, bake for approximately 10-12 minutes, don't let them brown. Let cool on cookie sheets, then move to a wire rack.
My friend's Shortbread
- Cream butter until fluffy, add sugar and cream together, then add the flour gradually and mix with a wooden spoon* as much as you can. Move the mixture to a lightly floured flat surface and with your hands work the dough until it comes together and forms a ball. If it is too sticky, wrap in plastic and refrigerate for approximately 30 minutes. On a lightly floured surface roll to 1/3 inch (1 cm) thickness. Cut out with desired shapes, place on prepared cookie sheets and bake for approximately 10-12 minutes. Let cool on cookie sheets and then move to a wire rack.
- ** I have received a couple of messages saying my Mom's shortbread doesn't come together and they had to add butter, a lot of butter! So I just made it again and no extra butter is needed, please note this is a dough that needs to be kneaded not whipped and don't forget the sifting. It will be crumbly until you start to knead it, then with a little bit of elbow grease you will arrive at the desired dough. Or you can also bring it together with a stand up mixer. Hope this helps. Let me know. Rosemary
*or use the paddle attachment on the mixer until almost combined.
Nutrition
Updated from November 30, 2014
Lynn says
Just made your Mom’s , easy wonderful no problems. I got 34 small to medium cut out cookies. They were a hit at our family party of 24 people of all ages.
Everyone asked for the recipe. If you follow the directions and don’t skip or change it they are perfect.
Merry Christmas and Happy New!!
Rosemary says
Hi Lynn, thanks so much, so glad everyone enjoyed them. Happy New Year.
HappyBumbleBee says
Made these today in Calgary, Alberta, Canada (1045m) and definitely advise to chill the brown sugar ones. Typically you have to chill so I was suprised the advise was only to chill if sticky.
The “mom’s” could use a touch more powdered sugar but turned out wonderfully without chilling.
Easiest to use a stand mixer and wait patiently for the dough to come together.
Rosemary says
Hi thanks so much. Merry Christmas
Ida says
Hello! Has anyone tried the brown sugar shortbread recipe using Bob’s Red Mill 1:1 Gluten-Free Flour?
Lynda Lamb says
Hi Stephanie. I’m looking forward to trying this with a rolling pin that has designs on it to imprint the dough. In the US, butter can be salted or unsalted. Am I correct that I should use the unsalted? Thanks and Merry Christmas.
Rosemary says
Hi Lynda, you can use either salted or unsalted. I use only salted because I can’t get unsalted here and I have never had a problem. Just add a bit more salt if you use unsalted butter.
Lynda Lamb says
Rosemary, thanks for your quick reply.
Ann says
I could not even kneed the Mom’s receipe. It was a disaster I had to add additional butter. Once I did, it was workable & finished product was delicious.
Meghan says
These came out great. I had no issues with the dough. In fact, I think these were the easiest cookies I’ve made this season and man are they good. I made some shortbread 2 weeks ago and it spread all over and came out crispy. These are thick and soft. My cookies came out just like yours. My inky complaint is that next time I will need to quadruple this recipe because these aren’t going to last long!
Rosemary says
Hi Meghan, thanks so much, so glad you like the recipe. Merry Christmas.
Ashley says
I followed the “My friend recipe” and i love it! So easy, so few ingredients but so yummy and they keep their shape well for cut outs!
Rosemary says
Hi Ashley thanks so much, so glad you enjoyed them. Have a great weekend.