Simple Shortbread Cookies – Two Ways
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?
Recipe Ingredients
- Butter – softened be sure to use a good quality butter
- Sugar – powdered sugar or brown sugar (depending on the recipe)
- Cornstarch – this helps make a tender cookie and helps keep the cookies from spreading
- Salt – add flavor
- Flour – all purpose flour
Brown Sugar Shortbread Ingredients
- Brown sugar
- Butter – use a good quality butter
- Flour – all purpose with at least 11% protein
How is shortbread different from cookies?
Most cookies have baking powder, baking soda and eggs in the recipe, they are usually lighter and sometimes chewy, whereas shortbread do not have baking powder or soda and contain few ingredients and they tend to be a tender, crumbly and melt in your mouth type of cookie.
How to Make them – Classic Shortbread
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 baking 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. I love the flavor the brown sugar gives the cookies. 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 Brown Sugar Shortbread
Cream butter until fluffy, add sugar and cream together, then add the flour gradually and mix until almost combined.
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.
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 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 stand 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”.
Recipe FAQs
Powdered sugar will help keep the cookies soft for longer and it helps to keep the cookies from spreading while baking.
Brown sugar will make a softer cookie and a subtle caramel flavor. Because brown sugar can increase spreading in cookies it is a good idea to chill the dough and the cookies before baking.
Be sure to use a higher protein flour, at least 11%, which is most all purpose flours, a low protein flour will cause the cookies to spread, and believe me refrigerating the dough will not help.
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. It also helps keep the dough from spreading.
Variations
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 and then baked them. You could also dip the baked cookies in melted chocolate, or sprinkle some nuts, coconut or even nonpariels before baking.
How to keep cookies from spreading
To keep the cookies from spreading it is best to beat the butter and sugar just until combined and not creamed (of course this also depends on the type of cookie), for some cookies including some icing sugar in the mixture also keeps the cookies from spreading.
And probably most important of all, is to use a higher protein flour with at least 11% protein count. And don’t forget to chill the dough for at least 1 hour and again the cut out cookies before baking while the oven is pre-heating. Using most of these will help produce the perfect Christmas Cookies.
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 6 months 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!
FAQs
Yes you can make the dough in advance, wrap well and place in an airtight bag, it can be refrigerated for up to 2-4 days or frozen for up to a month in the freezer.
I like to bake my shortbread to a very light color, whereas my daughter prefers them a darker golden brown. It’s up to you.
In my opinion no, unsalted butter is not available in my area in Italy so I have never used it and I have never noticed a difference. Just be sure to adjust the salt accordingly.
Shortbread has a buttery melt in your mouth crumbly texture. For some people it can even have a dry sandy texture.
I would advise refrigerating the dough for at least an hour and then refrigerating the cookies for about 15-20 before baking. This can be done while the oven is pre-heating.
Yes you could add for example a teaspoon of vanilla, almond or orange flavoring. Or you could incorporate some chopped chocolate, coconut or even some finely chopped nuts.
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!
More Shortbread Cookies You May Enjoy!
- Easy Chocolate Chip Whipped Shortbread
- Chocolate Hazelnut Shortbread Cookies
- Lemon Cheesecake Squares
- Almond Crescent Cookies
- Coconut Jam Squares
- Chocolate Shortbread Cookies
Simple Shortbread Cookies – Two Ways
Ingredients
MY MOM'S SHORTBREAD (Classic shortbread)
- 1 cup butter softened (salted)*
- ½ cup icing / powdered sugar
- ½ cup corn starch
- 1 pinch salt*
- 2 cups all purpose flour (at least 11% protein)
If you use unsalted butter then add ¼ teaspoon of salt. Be sure to use a good quality butter, apparently this year 2022, store brand butter quality is not what it used to be. Less fat could mean a dry not so tasty cookie.
MY FRIEND'S SHORTBREAD (Brown sugar shortbread)
- 1 cup butter softened (salted)
- ½ cup brown sugar (lightly packed)
- 2 ½ cups all purpose flour
- 1 pinch salt
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 gradually add the flour and salt, 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.
- Wrap the dough in plastic and refrigerate for approximately 60 minutes. On a lightly floured surface roll the dough to 1/3 inch (1 cm) thickness. Cut out into desired shapes, place on the prepared cookie sheets. Refrigerate the cookies while the oven is pre-heating. Bake for approximately 10-12 minutes. Let cool on cookie sheets and then move to a wire rack.
*or use the paddle attachment on the mixer until almost combined, then move to a lightly floured flat surface and continue with the recipe.
Notes
Nutrition
Updated from November 30, 2014
Hello, I have two questions. I want to make these with my 4 year old twin grandsons and want them to do the cutting. Will this dough work with the little spring action plunger cutters? Also can I make the dough ahead of time and refrigerate it until we roll it out and cut the cookies? Thank you very much
Hi Pat, it should work fine with those types of cutters. And yes you can refrigerate the dough before hand, you might want to take it out of the fridge 30 minutes before making the cookies. Have fun!
I made your mom’s recipe for Christmas and they came out PERFECT!!! I ended up making a second batch because my son kept sneaking them before I could dip them in chocolate. The second batch, I accidentally added an extra tablespoon of butter… they still turned out wonderfully! I dipped them in milk chocolate and white chocolate and my co-workers loved them! This is definitely my new go-to recipe.
Hi Marjorie, thanks so much, so glad you enjoyed them. I know it’s hard to stop at one! Happy New Year.
The cookies came out great! I will be saving the recipe for next year. I am glad you put in the tips about kneading the dough or i might have been worried, but the dough came together nicely. I used a wooden roller instead of patting to desired thickness.
Hi Sarah, so glad you enjoyed them. And yes a little kneading but it does work. Happy New Year.
I made these last night and they are delicious, but the mixture was very crumbly 🙁 so much so that I couldn’t roll it out. I ended up adding in some egg and that held it together. I’m not sure if it was because of something I had done or maybe the different climate? Have you found this has happened to you before?
Hi Nadia, this has never happened to me or my Mom, I even had people make this recipe for me using the instructions that you have to knead the dough, at first it is crumbly but it comes together, it takes some arm strength but it works, with no need to add anything. Hope this helps.
Followed the recipe exactly and they turned out great. Thanks !!
Hi Candyce, thanks so much, so glad you like them. Merry Christmas.
Hi! I would love to try these recipes now to be my christmas giveaways to friends, but I dont have cornstarch, can I skip it? Even brown sugar i dont have can i replace it with white sugar and how much should i put. Thanks.
Hi Claudette, I have never made these without cornstarch so I would not recommend it. And substituting white sugar for brown gives them a different taste. Hope this helps. 🙂
Hi! After reading all the comments this recipe sounds like a true winner, and I’m hoping to use it as a base for some gourmet shortbreads. I plan to make a lemon & lavendar, an orange & chocolate, and a white chocolate, pistachio and cranberry. How do you think your recipe will handle these added ingredients?
HI Buffy, sounds amazing, and I think it could handle it, it is a nice sturdy dough. Let me know how it goes. Have a wonderful Christmas.
I made the recipe with cornstarch. It is the same as my mother in laws recipe. They are so delicious! They need to be rolled thick so the cookie cutter has to be deep.
Hi Darlene, so glad you enjoyed them and yes they have to be thick. Have a wonderful Christmas.
How much lemon extract would you use in this recipe
To make them more like Panera bakery’s recipe ? We love the cookie , thanks janie
Hi Janie, sorry but I have never tried nor heard of these cookies, but I would say start with 1/2 teaspoon and see how that goes. Hope that helps. 🙂
I am a huge Panera shortbread cookie fan! I have it on good authority (wink) that the hint of lemon in their amazing cookies comes from the icing not the dough! So I would add lemon extract right to the icing as you make it, as Panera cookies are an iced shortbread….and amazing!!
Hi Gillian, sounds like a good idea to me. Thanks
Hi, I too love shortbread cookies and would love to ice them as I would a sugar cookie. Excited to give these a try. Thank you for both recipes ❤
Hi Ann, your welcome and apparently quite a few people have iced them and loved them (my cousin included). Have a great weekend.
Absolutely amazing recipe I actually really like both
Hi Wayne, thanks so much, I’m glad you like both! Have a great weekend.
Well… what an absolutely SUPERB shortbread recipe your Mothers is!!! Thank you so much for sharing. This will be my go to recipe for ever more! ?
Hi Naomi, thank you, so glad you enjoy it. Have a Merry Christmas.
I am a little confused about the icing sugar. The powdered sugar I have already contains some cornstarch, so would I adjust the amount of corn starch in the recipe, to compensate? Thanks in advance! I’d like to make these but I’d like to get some clarification on the “icing sugar”.
Hi Rhonda, icing sugar and powdered sugar are the same thing (Canadians call powdered sugar icing sugar), and yes there is a small amount of cornstarch in all powdered sugar so it doesn’t cake. So just follow the ingredients as written and it should be fine. Hope that helps. 🙂
Thank you so much for the clarification! I look forward to trying this recipe.
Hi Rosemary,
My son and I just made these cookies and they turned out perfect. So tender and flaky.
The dough is crumbly at first but with a little bit of effort it eventually comes together. Thank you for sharing! Merry Christmas!
Hi Maria, thanks so much, and yes a little arm work is necessary but so worth it. Thank you and a Merry Christmas to you too.
I made them using your friends recipe and they came out fabulous. My grandsons had a great time rolling the dough and making the cut outs. Don’t roll the dough too thin
Hi Nancie, so glad you enjoyed them and your grandson had so much fun. Have a wonderful Christmas.
Hi Rose
I’ve just finished baking shortbread cookies from your recipe.
Everything went well. Just after baking them some of them were getting apart.
I have no idea why? Can you possibly know why they are so fragile?
Other than that they are very delicious. I really enjoy them.
Have a lovely Christmas
Ewa
Hi Ewa, I really don’t know why, did you maybe bake them a little too long? Let me know.