What Are Shortbread Cookies?
Classic tender and buttery shortbread cookies are more dense and less sweet than most cookies. The dough was traditionally pressed into a round earthenware mold with a decoration carved into it. After being baked, the shortbread was turned out of the mold and cut into wedges.
How Do You Make Shortbread Cookies?
For the best shortbread cookies, be sure your butter is at room temperature but not so soft that any has melted. With our shortbread cookie recipe, sugar is mixed into softened butter first before adding the flour, to help the mixing go faster and easier. The dense dough is rolled and cut into shapes with a knife or cut with cookie cutters, so you don’t need to buy a special mold just to make these delicious, not-to-sweet cookies.
How Can I Customize Shortbread Cookies?
Try any of our flavorful stir-ins (see the Tips below) or change the shapes to fit the occasion by changing the shape you cut them in or the cookie cutters you use.
More About This Recipe
- Shortbread cookies are now widely made year-round, but it started as just a Christmas cookie or Scottish New Years cookie. If you’re a shortbread fan, like we are, check out this shortbread recipe collection for loads more yummy ways to enjoy shortbread cookies.
Frequently Asked Questions
Shortbread Cookies
- Prep Time 20 min
- Total 40 min
- Servings 24
- Ingredients 3
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup butter, softened
- 5 tablespoons sugar
- 2 cups Gold Medal™ all-purpose flour
Instructions
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Step1Heat oven to 350°F. In large bowl, stir butter and 4 tablespoons of the sugar until well mixed. Stir in flour. (If dough is crumbly, mix in 1 to 2 tablespoons more softened butter.)
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Step2Roll dough on lightly floured surface until 1/2 inch thick; sprinkle with remaining 1 tablespoon sugar. Cut into small shapes with knife or use cookie cutters. On ungreased cookie sheets, place shapes 1/2 inch apart.
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Step3Bake about 20 minutes or until set. Immediately remove from cookie sheets to cooling racks.
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Nutrition
Nutrition Facts
Serving Size: 1 Cookie
- Calories
- 100
- Calories from Fat
- 50
- Total Fat
- 6g
- 9%
- Saturated Fat
- 3 1/2g
- 18%
- Trans Fat
- 0g
- Cholesterol
- 15mg
- 5%
- Sodium
- 45mg
- 2%
- Potassium
- 15mg
- 0%
- Total Carbohydrate
- 11g
- 4%
- Dietary Fiber
- 0g
- 0%
- Sugars
- 3g
- Protein
- 1g
% Daily Value*:
- Vitamin A
- 4%
- 4%
- Vitamin C
- 0%
- 0%
- Calcium
- 0%
- 0%
- Iron
- 2%
- 2%
