Shortbread Recipes Cookies That Melt in Your Mouth

Whether you make shortbread recipes cookies or bars, you’ll want to try this shortbread cookie recipe for a buttery, soft, and chewy cookie with simple ingredients and classic sweet flavor.

I’m a chocolate fan. Some of my favorite recipes are Chocolate Waffles, Chocolate Banana Bread, and Chocolate Hummus. Yes, please!

So, a dessert without chocolate has to be pretty dang good for me to enjoy a sweet treat without one of my favorite ingredients.

Watch out Chocolate Chip Cookies – there’s a new cookie in town that just might give you a run for your money!

SHORTBREAD COOKIES

The first time I made this shortbread cookie recipe, I expected it to be tasty. By the time I made batch three, I was hooked! These classic shortbread cookies are:

• Soft and chewy
• Extra buttery
• So simple to make
• Just sweet enough (without being too sweet)
• Have a classic cookie flavor, with the chance to add a variety of toppings

Seriously, I don’t even bat an eye at my Sugar Cookies or Pumpkin Cookies anymore. These shortbread cookies have my name written all over them!

A BIT DIFFERENT FROM SCOTTISH SHORTBREAD COOKIES RECIPE

A traditional shortbread recipe includes just 3 ingredients: flour, sugar, and butter.

And that might make an okay shortbread cookies recipe, but you need just a few more ingredients to create the most DELICIOUS shortbread cookie.

3 + 3 INGREDIENTS FOR SHORTBREAD COOKIE RECIPES

The ingredient list for amazing shortbread cookie recipes is still super short and you probably already have everything you need to make them:

• Unsalted Butter. This is the main flavor you taste in shortbread cookies.
• Vanilla. Vanilla extract helps bring out the sweetness in the cookies without adding more sugar. Here’s how you can make your own.
• Superfine sugar (aka powdered sugar or confectioner’s sugar). This is super easy to make homemade too! I use coconut sugar (You can buy it locally at Walmart or have it shipped to you via Amazon). You can also use store-bought powdered sugar, but I like being able to use better-quality sugar, and it’s so easy to whiz up in the blender!
• Cornstarch. Adding cornstarch to shortbread cookies recipes makes the finished cookies turn out soft and chewy. (You can have it shipped to you via Amazon or buy it locally at Walmart)
• Salt. It might seem odd, but adding a bit of salt to cookies enhances the sweetness. Make sure to use a good salt like Ava Jane’s Kitchen that doesn’t have microplastics! You can get a free 8oz. bag of sea salt right now (just pay shipping and handling!).
• Flour. I recommend einkorn flour – you can use all purpose flour or whole grain.

See? Short and sweet.

Some shortbread cookies recipes will include baking powder or baking soda, but adding those will give you a crispy texture instead of a soft, chewy, and slightly crumbly texture.

HOW TO MAKE SHORTBREAD COOKIES RECIPES

Shortbread cookies recipes like this one come together really quickly in a stand mixer:

Step 1. Preheat the oven to 350F and line a large baking sheet with a silicone mat or parchment paper.

Step 2. In a blender or food processor, process the sugar until it’s superfine like powdered sugar.

Step 3. In a large bowl with an electric hand mixer, or in the bowl of a stand mixer with a paddle attachment, beat together the room temperature butter and sugar until it’s light in color, about 2 minutes. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and the beater/blade.

Step 4. Add the vanilla and beat until everything is well incorporated, about 2 minutes. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and the beater/blade.

Step 5. Add the cornstarch, flour, and salt and mix on low JUST until combined. The batter may look crumbly, but it will come together when you roll the shortbread dough into balls.

Step 6. Chill the shortbread cookie dough in the fridge. These butter shortbread cookies require a 30-minute chill time and there’s no way around it. The butter simply melts too quickly at room temperature, and chilling the dough means your cookies don’t spread in the oven.

Step 7. Using a cookie scoop, scoop two scoops of dough per cookie onto the baking sheet. Leave about 2-3” of space between each cookie. (If you’re using these USA baking pans and these silpat mats, you’ll get 12 cookies per pan.)

Some traditional shortbread recipes have you bake the shortbread in a square pan and cut it into bars, but I prefer the round cookie shape.

Step 8. When you’ve scooped all the cookies, working with one at a time, roll the double scoop of dough into a ball using the palm of your hands and place it back onto the baking pan. Repeat the process for all the cookies.

Step 9. Bake the cookies for 9-11 minutes, or until the edges just start to turn brown. Remove the cookies from the oven and allow them to cool on the baking pan for 10 minutes before placing them on a wire rack to cool completely.

Store shortbread cookies in an airtight container for up to 6 days or freeze for up to 3 months.

SECRETS TO AMAZING SHORTBREAD RECIPES COOKIES

After making several batches of these shortbread recipes cookies, here’s how I get them to turn out amazing every time!

• Superfine sugar. This is a must. Using regular granulated sugar is too heavy for these cookies. Measure the sugar into a blender and give it a quick whiz to make powdered sugar for light and fluffy shortbread biscuits.
• The dough is crumbly… but it comes together in your hands when you’re shaping the cookies. You might be tempted to add more liquid, but don’t do it!
• These cookies don’t spread much (as long as you chill the dough). This means that after you roll the dough into balls, you’ll want to press down lightly for a more traditional cookie shape. I use the bottom of a glass for this.
• Freezer-friendly! I intentionally make extra of these and freeze them, so I can grab a cookie whenever I want.
• Use silpat mats. These are my absolute favorite because they help encourage even cooking and prevent the cookies from burning!

SERVE WITH SHORTBREAD BISCUITS RECIPE

This shortbread biscuits recipe is fantastic all on its own, but you can also add a yummy topping!

Or use them to dunk into another yummy treat, like:

FAQS FOR SHORTBREAD RECIPE COOKIES

MORE YUMMY COOKIE BAKING RECIPES

Need more delicious cookies? Try these yummy treats!