ByCynthia
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Classic Scottish shortbread cookies are buttery, soft, and melt in your mouth! This easy recipe is shortbread at its purest, containing nothing but butter, flour, sugar and a pinch of salt.
What is the Secret to Good Shortbread?
Powdered sugar! Powdered (or confectioner’s) sugar is a blend of granulated sugar and cornstarch. The resulting shortbread is crisp and buttery, yet melts in your mouth.
Maybe it’s the Scottish blood coursing through my veins, but shortbread is my favorite of all cookies. This recipe comes from our Glaswegian neighbor who uses powdered sugar instead of granulated sugar for his Scottish shortbread recipe.
Cookie or Biscuit?
While Americans would consider a piece of shortbread a “cookie,” it’s actually called a “biscuit” outside of the US. This can be confusing since Americans consider a “biscuit” something similar to a British scone.
There are cookies in Britain, like snow cookies, but they tend to be softer and filled. Whatever you call shortbread, I just call it delicious!
I’ve written about shortbread before. My Lavender Shortbread and Rose Scented Shortbread are wonderful for special occasions.
Want something a little richer? How about Brown Sugar Walnut Shortbread? I’ve even made a savory version, like this Rosemary Cheddar Shortbread!
How to Make Traditional Scottish Shortbread
Today we’re talking about the classic Scotch shortbread cookie recipe. No additional ingredients, just buttery goodness!
This shortbread recipe with powdered sugar is easy to make with just the following simple ingredients:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 8 ounces unsalted butter, room temperature
- 3/4 cup powdered sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt (don’t use table salt or it will be too salty!)
- 2 Tablespoons sanding sugar for dusting on cooked shortbread, optional
To make Scottish shortbread cookies, start by creaming the butter until light and fluffy. Slowly add sugar, scraping down the sides.
Mix the flour and salt together, then add it to the butter and sugar. Add flour all at once and mix just until incorporated. Do not over-mix!
Pat the shortbread into a sheet pan to get square sides. Pat it down to about 1/2″ to 3/4″ thickness. I usually make them somewhere in between.
Use a knife and cut the dough into rectangles about 2” x 1 ½”. Prick each rectangle three times. They don’t have to be perfect.
Chilling the dough at this point makes it easier to remove the shortbread from the baking sheet, and helps it keep its shape on a warm day.
Transfer the shortbread onto a parchment or silpat lined cookie sheet. Bake for 20-25 minutes at 325* F. The shortbread should be pale and light golden. Dust with sanding sugar, if desired, as soon as they are pulled from the oven.
Scottish shortbread cookies will stay fresh in a tin for up to a week. These make a great gift, too!
Scottish Shortbread Cookies
Cynthia
Classic Scottish shortbread cookies are buttery, soft, and melt in your mouth! This easy recipe is shortbread at its purest, containing nothing but butter, flour, sugar and a pinch of salt.
4.94 from 61 votes
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Prep Time 10 minutes mins
Cook Time 20 minutes mins
chill 20 minutes mins
Total Time 50 minutes mins
Course Cookie
Cuisine British
Servings 36 biscuits
Calories 83 kcal
Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/4 teaspoon fine kosher salt don't use table salt or it will be too salty!
- 8 ounces unsalted butter room temperature
- 3/4 cup confectioner's sugar
- 2 Tablespoons sanding sugar optional, for dusting on cooked shortbread
Instructions
Cream butter until light and fluffy.
Slowly add sugar, scraping down sides.
Mix flour and salt together. Add flour all at once, mix just until incorporated. Do not over-mix!
Using your hands, pat into a cookie sheet, about 1/2" thick.
Trim edges to make neat sides. Using a knife slice into rectangles about 2"x1". Prick with a fork three times on each rectangle. Put rectangles on a cookie sheet.
For best results, chill shortbread for 20 minutes. This will help them retain their shape.
Bake for 20-25 minutes at 325* F. The shortbread should be pale and light golden. Dust with sanding sugar if desired as soon as they are pulled from the oven.
Makes about 3 dozen.
Notes
Notes:
- chill the dough for 15-20 minutes before baking.
- the quality of ingredients is important, use the best sweet cream butter you can afford.
- If you are using salted butter.DO NOT add additional salt. If you do not have kosher salt, which is less salty that regular salt, use less.
- some recipes call for granulated sugar..some call for cornstarch. Confectioner’s sugar is both mixed together
Nutrition
Serving: 1biscuitCalories: 83kcalCarbohydrates: 8gProtein: 1gFat: 5gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.2gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0.2gCholesterol: 14mgSodium: 33mgPotassium: 9mgFiber: 0.2gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 157IUCalcium: 3mgIron: 0.3mg
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
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