That is hands-down my favourite shortbread cookies recipe! It’s tremendous easy and the cookies are sturdy sufficient to be saved for days (if not weeks when chilled). There are just a few components required and no mixer! You solely want a a bowl and spoon.

I like these shortbread cookies! They’re tremendous easy, proving that generally probably the most fundamental recipes are really the perfect. They’ve a traditional, buttery taste that jogs my memory of the Scottish shortbread (like Walker’s) I loved rising up. They’re unbelievable.
Whereas the bottom recipe calls for under three components, I like so as to add a contact of vanilla and a touch of orange zest. The dough wants some chilling time, however I really recognize that! These cookies are good for making upfront, which is all the time a plus, particularly in the course of the holidays. Undoubtedly considered one of my favourite cookie recipes! These cookies additionally encourage the crust for our lemon bars with a shortbread crust.
Key Components
- Flour: I follow all-purpose flour for these cookies. Whereas some recipes use cornstarch for further tenderness, plain flour offers them the right steadiness – tender however with a little bit of crunch.
- Sugar: Plain granulated sugar is all you want! It sweetens the dough fantastically, and I like to sprinkle slightly further on high, which makes the cookies sparkle.
- Butter: Not like many shortbread recipes that begin with softened butter, this one requires melted butter. This implies no mixer is required (a significant win in my e-book!). The recipe makes use of salted butter, however be at liberty to substitute unsalted and add 1/4 teaspoon of tremendous salt. I additionally use melted butter to make my favourite oatmeal cookies.
- Vanilla and Orange: Belief me on this one. The vanilla extract and orange zest are game-changers! These easy additions make these cookies really particular. I additionally add orange zest (together with lemon zest) to those straightforward butter cookies!
Find out how to Make Shortbread Cookies
This shortbread cookie recipe is my absolute favourite. It’s extremely straightforward and delivers improbable outcomes! You solely want a bowl and spoon to combine the dough (no mixer required!).
The key to those tender cookies is infused sugar. Merely use your fingers to rub the granulated sugar with vanilla extract and orange zest. As you rub, the oils from the orange zest fragrance the sugar, creating an unbelievable aroma and taste that infuses the cookie dough.

Subsequent, stir within the melted butter whereas nonetheless heat and gently combine within the flour till a mushy dough types. Don’t fear if it appears to be like a bit shiny from the butter—that’s precisely what you need!


Now, right here’s the important thing: let the dough relaxation on the counter for a few hours, and even higher, in a single day. This enables the flour to completely take up all the flavour from the butter and infused sugar. I exploit the identical resting technique for different cookies on the weblog like our snickerdoodles or these chocolate chip cookies.
We’ll use Alice Medrich’s sensible, twice-baked technique to realize that completely crisp, melt-in-your-mouth texture. First, bake the cookies in a pan till they’re agency and frivolously golden. Then, take away them from the oven, slice them into particular person cookies, and bake them once more for an additional quarter-hour till they’re fantastically crisp.


Belief me, this further step is price each second! It makes a world of distinction in texture, supplying you with probably the most scrumptious traditional shortbread cookies!


Our Favourite Shortbread Cookies
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We love these wealthy and buttery shortbread cookies. The recipe is easy and the cookies are sturdy sufficient to be saved for days (if not weeks when chilled). There are just a few components required and no mixer! You solely want a a bowl and spoon.
Makes 16 cookies
You Will Want
5 tablespoons (60g) granulated sugar, plus extra for sprinkling
1 ¼ teaspoons vanilla extract
1 teaspoon finely grated orange zest
1/4 teaspoon tremendous sea salt
12 tablespoons (170g) unsalted butter, melted and nonetheless heat
1 ½ cups (195g) all-purpose flour
Instructions
1Line an 8-inch sq. pan with aluminum foil, leaving an overhang on two reverse sides (this helps take away the baked cookies from the pan later).
2Add the butter to a small saucepan and warmth over low till melted. Or, add to a microwave-safe bowl and warmth till melted.
3Whereas the butter melts, use your fingers to rub the sugar, vanilla, and orange zest collectively in a medium bowl.
4Stir within the heat melted butter. Then, add the flour and blend simply till mixed. It would look shiny from all of the butter.
5Press the dough evenly within the foil-lined pan and let it relaxation at room temperature for two hours or in a single day (there isn’t a must refrigerate).
6Place a rack in direction of the decrease third of the oven and preheat the oven to 300°F (149°C).
7Bake the shortbread till set and barely golden on the edges, 40 to 45 minutes.
8Take away the pan from the oven, however depart the oven turned on. Frivolously sprinkle the highest of the shortbread with sugar (a tablespoon ought to do it). Permit the shortbread to chill within the pan for 10 minutes.
9Fastidiously take away the shortbread (utilizing the overhanging sides of the foil), after which place it onto a chopping board. Minimize the shortbread into squares or triangles utilizing a serrated or skinny sharp knife. (I get 16 squares or 32 triangles.)
10Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or extra foil. Then, place the shortbread cookies onto it, leaving slightly area between them. Bake for quarter-hour, after which cool on a wire rack.
Adam and Joanne’s Ideas
- Storing: Retailer the cookies in an hermetic container at room temperature for as much as every week (or freeze for 1 month).
- We researched a number of recipes earlier than arising with this recipe. Probably the most fascinating one we discovered was from Alice Medrich. We love her technique of double-baking the cookies. It’s what makes these cookies the closest to our favourite store-bought Scottish shortbreads. Yow will discover her Shortbread Cookies recipe in her cookbook, Pure Dessert. We additionally discovered loads from High-quality Cooking’s shortbread cookie suggestions.
- The vitamin information offered under are estimates.
Diet Per Serving
Serving Dimension
1 cookie
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Energy
135
/
Protein
1g
/
Carbohydrate
13g
/
Dietary Fiber
0g
/
Complete Sugars
4g
/
Complete Fats
9g
/
Saturated Fats
5g
/
Ldl cholesterol
23mg
/
Sodium
74mg