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These homemade Shortbread Cookies are a super simple, buttery and sweet treat, perfect for Christmas time or a cookie exchange! I’ve taken this classic recipe and made it even better. Similar to this Christmas Shortbread Cookies, enjoy these with chocolate, jam or just plain. Either way, you absolutely MUST make these this holiday season!
You’ll Love These Cookies!
There are lot of cookies that are perfect for the holidays, but what sets this cookie recipe apart from the others is its simplicity. This shortbread cookie recipe is a classic one that you can customize (see notes below) or leave plain. Sometimes, simple is best!
You’ll notice in the pictures that sometimes I make these a little smaller with a clean cut round cookie cutter, and other times use a slightly bigger, crinkle edge cookie cutter. Both are great sizes, it just comes down to personal preference.
Three Main Ingredients
All shortbread cookie recipes everywhere call for the same three basic ingredients:
- Butter– use at room temperature and yes, I use salted butter for all my baking.
- Flour– all purpose flour is great. I use unbleached.
- Sugar-I use powdered sugar (confectioner’s sugar) for a softer texture, but granulated can work too!
Pro Tip: I do like to add in a little vanilla extract to make my shortbread that much more flavorful, but if you’re a shortbread purist, you can certainly omit it.
Shortbread Cookies vs Sugar Cookies
Shortbread cookies are more dense than a sugar cookie. Shortbread also has as super short list of ingredients without any leavening (baking soda or powder). Sugar Cookies are lighter and easier to work with for cutting and decorating with icing.
This is not my first rodeo with Shortbread Cookies. In fact, I have three others that I’ll link here: Christmas Shortbread Cookies, Vanilla Shortbread Thumbprint Cookies, and Hazelnut Shortbread Wreath Cookies.
How to Make Shortbread Cookies
These classic shortbread cookies are some of the easiest cookies you can make! Just make sure you are using soft, room temperature butter and you are measuring your flour correctly! The finished shortbread dough will be a crumbly texture, but when you start to form it together with your hands, it should come together just fine. (The heat of your hands will help with this!)
1. Preheat Oven + Prep Pans
Preheat oven to 325° F. Line two lightly colored baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside.
2. Make the Dough
In the bowl of a stand mixer, add in butter, sugar, vanilla, and flour. Using the paddle attachment, mix ingredients slowly on low speed until a crumbly dough forms. I do not recommend mixing by hand, but you can use an electric hand mixer if you don’t have a stand mixer.
3. Form Dough, Roll Out + Cut
On a lightly floured surface, roll out your dough. Form dough into a ball and roll out with a rolling pin in between parchment paper to 1/3-1/2-inch thick. Cut into small 3-inch circles (or any shape desired*) and place onto the prepared baking sheet.
Pro Tip: *Alternately, you can roll dough into balls and press out with a flat bottomed glass or indent with a fork. If you’re feeling adventurous you can also use cookie cutters for different shapes.
4. Bake + Cool
Customizing Your Shortbread Cookies
So now that you know how to make this basic shortbread cookie, you can now customize your next batch however you like. Here are a few ideas to get you started.
- Extract. Instead of using vanilla extract try using almond, lemon or even lavender extract, if you’re into floral flavors.
- Chocolate. Add in mini chocolate chips to the dough, dip in melted chocolate or try making sandwich cookies using Nutella as the filling.
- Jam. Jams are always a good idea for these shortbread cookies. Try making a jam dipping bar for these cookies.
- Zest. Add some lime, lemon or orange zest to your dough for a boost of citrus flavor.
- Nuts. Chop and mix in nuts for a crunchy texture.
- Sprinkles. This add-in always goes over well with my kids. Make it festive and roll in Christmas sprinkles to the top of the dough before cutting and baking. Or, after baking and cooling, spread frosting on them and dip in sprinkles.
Storage Directions for Shortbread Cookies
Stored cookies will stay fresh in an airtight container for 5 days on the counter, or up to 10 days in the fridge.
To freeze after baking– allow to cool to room temperature. Place in a freezer safe container and freeze for up to 3 months. Allow to come to room temperature and serve.
To freeze before baking– I would suggest rolling out the dough and cutting into desired shapes before freezing. Flash freeze on a cookie sheet before placing in a freezer-safe, airtight container. When ready to bake, allow to sit out while the oven preheats, then bake as the recipe card indicates.
FAQ and Troubleshooting Shortbread Cookies
I never knew there could be so much trouble with shortbread until I posted this recipe online and the questions came rolling in, ha! Here are my best tips and tricks to helping you get perfect shortbread cookies every time! Because we aren’t weighing the ingredients, this can cause a little differentiation in the finished product.
First I would ask, have you tried working the shortbread dough together with your hands? The heat of your hands should help it come together. Also, did you use room temperature butter? That will help the dough come together. If you’re trying to roll it out, the edges will be a little crumbly! Just press the extra dough back into place. When in doubt, roll into balls and press with the palm of your hand or a fork. Works like a charm!
This can vary from kitchen to kitchen! Did you fluff the flour first? Flour that sits in a canister or bag over time settles and you have to aerate it before spooning it into your measuring cup, leveling the top and adding to your recipe.
Again, I think this comes down to measuring the flour. Cookies spread because there isn’t enough flour in the dough. Shortbread cookies hold their shape so well because there is a lot of flour! So, they shouldn’t be spreading too much in the oven. The good news is, if your cookies are spreading, add a little more flour into your dough and that will correct the problem.
There are a few possible reasons for this. One might be that your shortbread dough was pressed out too thick making it harder for the cookie to bake thoroughly. Another reason could be your oven is too hot- causing the top of the cookie to brown before the bottom of the cookie is fully cooked. Keep in mind shortbread cookies (especially this recipe of mine) isn’t necessarily supposed to be crunchy, but tender, buttery and a little crumbly.
Not necessarily. Refrigeration for 30 minutes with any cookie helps hold the shape, but it’s not necessary with this particular shortbread recipe. If you’re concerned there is not enough flour, causing these to spread and loose their shape, then by all means refrigerate first, then bake.
More Christmas Cookies to Try This Holiday Season!
- Ultimate Sugar Cookies
- Amaretti Cookies
- Triple Chocolate Candy Cane Cookies
- Gingerdoodles
- Gingerbread Cookies with Royal Icing
- Candy Cane Cookies
- Peanut Butter Blossoms
These are the best shortbread cookies and one of my favorite cookies to make this time of year. The best part is trying different ways to customize them! The printable recipe card is below. Make sure you save it so you can make these Shortbread Cookies later. Have a great day, friends! 🙂
More Favorites from Lauren’s Latest
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.
Shortbread Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 cup butter softened
- 3/4 cup powdered sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups all purpose flour
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325° F. Line two lightly colored baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer, add in butter, sugar, vanilla, and flour. (Be sure to fluff your flour before measuring to get an accurate measurement.) Mix slowly until a crumbly dough forms. It will look like crumbs in the stand mixer, but when squeezed together in your hands will hold its shape.
- Form dough into a ball and roll in between parchment paper to 1/3-1/2-inch thick. Cut into small 3-inch circles (or any shape desired*) and place onto prepared baking sheets.
- Bake 12-15 minutes or until the bottoms of the cookies are barely golden brown. Cool 5 minutes on hot baking trays before transferring to cooling racks.
- Store in airtight containers for up to 5 days.
Looking forward to trying this cookie recipe!
Idk what I did wrong but the amount of butter is the recipe called for wasn’t enough. And now I’m watching my cookies bake and I’m not feeling good about them
These turned out so good! They are so simple and tasty! I cut them into Christmas shapes with cookie cutters and added sugar sprinkles before baking. Perfection.
Did you use 2 sticks? Mine came out perfect.
First time I made them I didn’t know the dough needs some time before it gets the right consistency so midway through the mixing I added more butter because it looked dry 😅 maybe you just stopped mixing too soon?
I made the recipe two more times, with a bit more patience and it came out perfectly.
I also add a bit of cinnamon, nutmeg and some citrus peel for some added spice.
Have confidence in your baking. When I bake cakes, I have to feel confident, or it seems like they don’t turn out. Try it!
Made these tonight as part of my Christmas baking. I was a little scared when they weren’t coming together but once I got to rolling them, they came together nicely. They taste pretty delicious!
Love shortbread cookies. Love the way these are so symmetrically shaped.
Cannot wait to try this, my moms favorite is shortbread! Will be making for her soon! Thank you for the great recipes!😘
I love shortbread at Christmas time, I cut up red and green maraschino cherries to decorate them, kinda looks like holy.
one of my favorite cookies…cant wait to try
Oh man, shortbread is probably one of my favorite things on earth! And I’m seriously in love with the simplicity of your photos in this post!!
I love shortbread! And an easy recipe to boot. Thanks:-)
These look fabulous! Every year my mom requests shortbread for her birthday, I can’t wait to try your recipe!
I have tried and failed numerous times to make shortbread but this super simple recipe looks like it could be a winner! Can’t wait to try it.
Did you try it???
A lot of you people say this all the time.
Do not comment if not made.
Thank you. My mom made shortbread like this and it is great! Snuck one after it cooled a bit. It melted in my mouth.
I’m pretty sure a person can comment on anything, if they choose!
If you’re having a bad day….don’t be rude to others!
PS
YES I tried this recipe, I tweaked it so it’s great now.
I’ve been looking (casually) at finding a shortbread cookie recipe to try as my first, and I think this fit the bill! Thank you for sharing this, and all the other wonderful recipes you share!
PS – Congrats! Porter is adorable 🙂
So easy and tasty.
Looks like a keeper for Christmas cookie box 🍪
These look adorable and my mouth is salivating already. I’m definitely going to make these.
These look amazing!
Shortbread is one of the most underappreciated cookies! But my favorite…it’s all the butter!
My mom and I LOVE shortbread so I am super excited to try your version, maybe i will add some orange zest and dip them in chocolate too! Love your recipes so so much xoxo
I love shortbread cookies! Can’t wait to try these for Christmas!
I am adding this to my Christmas Cookie List this year!!
Shortbread cookies are my favorite! I’m definitely trying these!
Did you make them????
I came to leave a comment on the fabulous pizza dough recipe that I love and make every week and ran into this post. OMG! I have to make these ASAP! They look wonderful plus all your recipes are big wins in my house! Love love love your blog! Thank you!
Oh this looks perfect for little gifts for all the other teachers and staff at work.
I love shortbread cookies! I’m thinking about centering my Christmas cookie boxes around shortbread this year. Cant wait to try!
These are only ones I make that turn out every time
Can’t wait to try these! My son is allergic to eggs so we are always looking for good egg free desserts. Planning to dip half of the cookie in melted chocolate after baking.
YUM! Love a good shortbread cookie. Can’t wait to try this at holiday time. Ty!
Bookmarking these for the Christmas cookie trays! 🙂
I can’t wait to try this recipe this Christmas season! My kids will love them with sprinkles!
I love making your recipes!
These look absolutely divine! Saving these for our Christmas cookie exchange 🙂
I am going to use this recipe for Christmas ! I love shortbread and this recipe seems so versatile! Love your blog ！
My all time go to at the holidays! I sandwich them with raspberry jam & make a glaze with confectioners sugar & drop of milk . Top with a half of cherry & voila! Empire biscuits 😊
It’s amazing how the simplest ingredients make such a devine treat. I’m adding these to my Christmas rotation.❤
These cookies look divine – I love shortbread and can’t wait to try these for my small online bakery!
Shelly Walker says merry Christmas
This looks sooo good! I make custom decorated sugar cookies but now I want to try this! Thanks! Also thanks for all the extra tips!
These look so good! I’ll be trying them with chocolate. !
I love shortbread, and this recipe looks exceptionally good! I can’t wait to try it!! These will be perfect for the holidays!!!
My mom loves shortbread and I think these would be a great choice for me to make for her. Never heard of lavender extract
Where do I find?
Amazon, of course! Either use buds ground into your sugar or infused into the sugar. Also, there is organic lavender extract available there as well.
Shortbread is my favorite cookie. I can’t wait to try these.❤
I’ll have to try this traditional version! My go-to is a brown sugar shortbread with chocolate chips. I’ll have to see how we like it with the powdered sugar!!
I have been craving a really good shortbread cookie and this looks like it might be it! Can’t wait to try it!
Thank you for sharing. Been looking for the perfect Shortbread Cookie recipe.
Looking forward to making these this weekend!!!
I absolutely love shortbread! I have to get walkers every Christmas. Can’t wait to try this.
Making these again next week!
These look delicious! I can’t wait to try them!
I love shortbread, perfect for the holiday season! A must try.
I fell in love with the thumbprint short bread cookies! I will definitely be trying this recipe thank you!
This recipe was very difficult to form into a ball, and when I rolled it, the mixture crumbled. Any suggestions? Thanks!
I had the same issue I added 1/4 cup of milk and it made the dough perfect.
I had trouble. When I made the dough it was really soft. I chilled it and baked it and the dough spreader and it became quite “airy”. Now, I didn’t use powdered sugar but the author said granulated would be ok. I also creamed the butter and sugar before adding the flour. Could that have caused the problem???
I love shortbread and this recipe does not disappoint. Love the versatility of this recipe!
Shortbread is my favorite cookie! I never knew they had such simple ingredients! Definitely making these soon!
Who doesn’t love a good shortbread cookie? This recipe is spot on. It is added to my favorites section of my recipe box.
Happy Baking!
These look delicious — can’t wait to bake this weekend!
I love making shortbread. (It’s been far too long since I’ve done it). Cookies, eh? What a concept. HA! Added this to my BAKING favorites folder.
I used to also make a cocoa-infused shortbread. Yum! I will definitely have to dig out that recipe and make some.
Have a great day!
JAJ
I wonder if you could just add cocoa to this recipe??
Looks similar to my moms recipe cantcwait to try love your blog happy to win the 1000
These are the cookies that I want to bake for Christmas.
Ever try lavender buds in your shortbread? Very yummy!!
Made these short bread cookies tonight. I did him a little different. And I used the shotguests to shape him out. Really small and rolled them in some sugar. First batch didn’t taste very sweet but after adding the sugar coat they turned out perfect.