Christmas Shortbread Cookies

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These Christmas Shortbread Cookies are a delightful and festive treat that combines the rich, buttery flavor of my wildly popular shortbread cookies with the sweet and fruity goodness of jam. Start your Christmas baking off right by making these for a cookie exchange or add to a cookie variety plate for neighbor gifts this holiday season.

 

Ingredient Notes + Variations

This recipe sticks to the classics, which is exactly why it works so well. Everything blends into a soft, buttery dough that bakes into the most tender shortbread cookies. Here’s a couple key notes on a few ingredients:

• Butter: Use very soft butter, not melted. This gives the dough that smooth, shortbread texture.
• Jam or Nutella: Either works for the filling. Raspberry jam looks especially festive.
• Powdered sugar: Creates a simple icing that sets into a thin sweet glaze.

How to Make Christmas Shortbread Cookies

With just 4 simple ingredients, you’ll soon have perfect shortbread cookies to enjoy at Christmas time! For full recipe details, including ingredients and measurements, see the printable recipe card down below.

Step 1: Preheat Oven + Prep Pan

Preheat oven to 325° F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.

Step 2: Make Shortbread Dough

In a large bowl, mix room temperature butter, white sugar, vanilla extract, and all purpose flour together on low to medium speed until incorporated. After a quick mix in the bowl of a stand mixer or hand mixer, it’ll look like this isn’t much of a dough at all; just a crumbly texture. NEVER FEAR! Dough should hold its shape when squeezed together.

Pro Tip: If you’re using unsalted butter, add in 1/2 teaspoon of salt.

Step 3: Form Dough into Logs

Divide the shortbread dough into 4 equal portions and form into logs down the length of the cookie sheet. Press your finger into the center to create an indent all the way down each log.

Step 4: Bake

Once you have all the logs are formed, bake 12-15 minutes at 325° F until golden brown. Bake time for my cookies was right at 14 minutes, but all ovens vary slightly. The cookies will spread a little, but that’s totally normal! Let these cool completely on a wire rack.

Step 5: Add the Filling

Now comes the fun part!! Fill each log with whatever you like. I like to use raspberry or strawberry jam because it’s more festive, but I’ve used peach preserves, blackberry jam, and even Nutella before. It’s all delish.

Step 6: Drizzle Icing Across the Cookies (Optional)

If you feel so inclined, drizzle an easy icing made from confectioners’ sugar (powdered sugar), milk, and vanilla extract. Mix all icing ingredients together in a mixing bowl until it’s the consistency of white school glue. Drizzle over each log generously. Cut into diagonal pieces once icing has set for 20 minutes or so.

Tips for Success

• Use a sharp knife to cut clean diagonal slices.
• Use very soft butter so the dough comes together smoothly.
• Don’t overbake. The edges should stay pale.
• Let the logs cool fully before adding the jam to prevent melting.
• Start with 1 teaspoon of milk in the icing, then add more as needed to thin it.

Make a batch now, then make another because these disappear fast. They’re simple, pretty, and holiday-ready. The recipe card is below. Merry Christmas, friends!

Shortbread Filling Variations

Feel free to experiment with different combinations to find the flavors that you and your family enjoy! Whether you go for sweet, fruity, or nutty fillings, these variations can add a delightful twist to your traditional Christmas Shortbread Cookies. Here are lots of options for fillings:

1. Chocolate Ganache: You can use dark, milk, or white melted chocolate depending on your preference.
2. Caramel Sauce or Salted Caramel Sauce: Homemade or store-bought would be amazing with shortbread.
3. Nutella or Peanut Butter: for a nutty and indulgent treat.
4. Lemon Curd: The bright and citrusy flavor pairs wonderfully with the buttery shortbread.
5. Strawberry Jam: Make a fruit jam using your favorite fruits (such as berries, peaches, or apples) and use it as a filling for your shortbread cookies. Cook the fruits with a bit of sugar until they form a thick, jam-like consistency.
6. Almond Paste: Roll almond paste into small balls and place them in the center of each shortbread cookie. The almond flavor complements the buttery taste of the cookie.
7. Cream Cheese Frosting: spread a layer or use a piping bag of cream cheese frosting inside the shortbread cookies.
8. Fruit Butter: Use fruit butters such as apple butter or pumpkin butter as a flavorful filling.

More Christmas Cookie Recipes to Try

• Classic No-Bake Cookies
• Bakery Style Frosted Sugar Cookies
• Gingerbread Cookie Sandwiches
• Chocolate Mint Cookies
• Candy Cane Sugar Cookies
• See my 50+ Old Fashioned Christmas Cookies post for more inspo!

If you make this recipe, I would really appreciate it if you would give it a star rating and leave your review in the comments! If you have a picture of your finished dish, post it on Instagram using the hashtag #laurenslatest and tagging me @laurens_latest.