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 only some substances required and no mixer! You solely want a a bowl and spoon.
I like these shortbread cookies! They’re tremendous easy, proving that generally essentially the most primary recipes are actually one of the best. They’ve a traditional, buttery taste that jogs my memory of the Scottish shortbread (like Walker’s) I loved rising up. They’re unimaginable.
Whereas the bottom recipe calls for under three substances, I like so as to add a contact of vanilla and a touch of orange zest. The dough wants some chilling time, however I truly recognize that! These cookies are good for making upfront, which is at all times a plus, particularly in the course of the holidays. Undoubtedly certainly one of my favourite cookie recipes! These cookies additionally encourage the crust for our lemon bars with a shortbread crust.
Key Elements
Flour: I follow all-purpose flour for these cookies. Whereas some recipes use cornstarch for additional tenderness, plain flour provides them the right stability – 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 a bit of additional on prime, 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 guide!). The recipe makes use of salted butter, however be at liberty to substitute unsalted and add 1/4 teaspoon of fantastic 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 actually particular. I additionally add orange zest (together with lemon zest) to those straightforward butter cookies!
How one can Make Shortbread Cookies
This shortbread cookie recipe is my absolute favourite. It’s extremely straightforward and delivers unbelievable 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 unimaginable 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 delicate dough types. Don’t fear if it seems to be 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 permits the flour to totally take up all the flavour from the butter and infused sugar. I take advantage of 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 attain that completely crisp, melt-in-your-mouth texture. First, bake the cookies in a pan till they’re agency and evenly 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 additional step is price each second! It makes a world of distinction in texture, providing you with essentially the most scrumptious traditional shortbread cookies!
Our Favourite Shortbread Cookies
PREP
50mins
COOK
1hr
TOTAL
1hr 50mins
We love these wealthy and buttery shortbread cookies. The recipe is straightforward and the cookies are sturdy sufficient to be saved for days (if not weeks when chilled). There are only some substances 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 fantastic 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 any 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. Calmly 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.
9Rigorously take away the shortbread (utilizing the overhanging sides of the foil), after which place it onto a chopping board. Reduce 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 a bit of house between them. Bake for quarter-hour, after which cool on a wire rack.
Adam and Joanne’s Suggestions
We researched a number of recipes earlier than developing with this recipe. Essentially 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. You’ll find her Shortbread Cookies recipe in her cookbook, Pure Dessert. We additionally realized lots from Superb Cooking’s shortbread cookie suggestions.
The diet info offered beneath are estimates.
Vitamin Per Serving
Serving Dimension
1 cookie
/
Energy
135
/
Protein
1g
/
Carbohydrate
13g
/
Dietary Fiber
0g
/
Whole Sugars
4g
/
Whole Fats
9g
/
Saturated Fats
5g
/
Ldl cholesterol
23mg
/
Sodium
74mg