This is a super easy shortbread recipe. I don’t even cream the butter and sugar first. A one bowl mix of three ingredients and you have a heavenly mouthful of crisp, buttery shortbread biscuit.
Shortbread Cookies
These Shortbread Cookies are moment stoppingly good and I have been most grateful for those moments with my children off for the holidays these last two weeks. I adore them, just not in double doses. OMG they do my “swede” in. No activity is without clashing or bickering. I fear I’m not up to this hard core parenting malarkey. I’m not sure I have the steely nerve required. Give me vomiting or a genuine wounding any day. I actually quiver/wobble when I hear their footsteps on the stairs. Luckily one wakes early and the other late but come 9.30 a.m it kicks off anyway. I have tried to wear my parenting big pants and disappear off to the park/ beach with a picnic blanket and coping techniques. I have tried to induce sibling unity with fun filled activities and days out but they can’t complete a short car journey without World War 3 . Invariably they emerge hissing and spitting at each other intent on full and bloody revenge for the rest of the day. What the flip???? I have punished, rewarded and screamed like a psycho b.tch. I have made them cry and lectured lovingly. They just don’t seem to get it. I am all out of solutions and sanity and I’m out of here parenting people. I’m giving them unrestricted screen time and shortbread until normal school service resumes. Shoot me.
Easy Shortbread Recipe
This is about as easy as it gets, thank goodness. I put 3 ingredients in a mixing bowl or food processor and mix. I have made it in both and it matters not so use what ever suits you. I would say though that if you are using a food processor it needs to be a large one or you could split the ingredients in half and do it in 2 batches.
Shortbread Ingredients
Mix together until you get a shaggy dough thing going on.
Shortbread mix
Knead and squeeze it together with your hands either tipped out onto the work surface or in the bowl.
Dough
I then tip out onto a lightly floured work surface and roll the smooth dough out to about 1 cm thick. Flour your rolling pin a little too. I use a scone cutter to cut out rounds. I use the fluted edge as I think it looks prettier but you can use any shape. My cutter is 7 cm wide and I get about 13 cookies from it. Damn that odd one.
Cutting out
I use a fish slice/flat spatula to scoop them carefully off the work surface and onto a lined large baking tray. I use a re usable silicone liner but either baking paper is fine or you could grease and flour the baking tray itself.
Ready for the oven
Because it is such a soft dough it is sometimes easy to get an uneven roll here and there but just do your best. I find that the cookies do even out in the oven. I put 6 cookies per tray to allow for spreading. It does mean you have to bake in batches and the last 1 that is left over is annoying. Soz. My baking trays are 35 cm x 30 cm. Chill in the fridge for at least 30 minutes.
Bake for 15 minutes or until golden around the edges and a little on top.
Baked Cookies
Sometimes I dip them in good quality milk chocolate for the children or spoon 2 tsp of melted chocolate on top of the cookie itself. Either way is effective but the latter is certainly easier. I find dipping a bit difficult as the cookies are so wide.
Chocolate Shortbread Cookies
How To Store Shortbread
I keep mine in an air tight container. If I have a double layer then I will put a sheet of grease proof or baking paper in there in between the top and bottom layers of biscuits. I do find they keep for a week but perhaps lose their shortness a little after the 2nd day. You can freeze them after baking making sure they are well protected. I freeze them in a stout tupperware container with a layer of grease proof/baking paper between the layers. You can also store the raw shortbread dough in the freezer well wrapped and protected from freezer burn. Roll the dough into a sausage about 5/7 cm in diameter. Wrap it in clingfilm. In fact I usually use the clingfilm to roll it up.
Cookie Dough Roll
I then put the roll in two freezer bags if you have big enough ones. I do use a carrier bag if i don’t. Simply remove from the freezer and allow to thaw enough for you to slice into 1 cm rounds. Bake for a minute or two longer than the standard baking time. The dough will keep for 3 months in your freezer.
Equipment Required
- Digital Scales
- Free Standing Mixer, Food Processor, Electric Hand Whisk
- Rolling Pin
- Fish Slice/Spatula
- Scone/Cookie Cutter
- Wire Rack
- Oven Thermometer (optional)
Easy Shortbread Cookies
This easy shortbread recipe is a real family favourite. Light, buttery and crisp they really take some beating.
Ingredients
- 250 grams unsalted butter room temperature
- 150 grams caster sugar I use unrefined
- 350 grams plain flour
Instructions
Pre heat your oven to 190 C/375 F/Gas Mark 5. Put all the ingredients into your mixing/food processor bowl. Mix until you get a shaggy dough.
Either tip onto your work surface or leave in your mixing bowl to use your hands to bring/squeeze together into a smooth dough. Lightly flour your rolling pin and work surface.
Roll out the dough to 1 cm thickness. Cut out the cookies and use a flat spatula to carefully place onto your lined baking tray. Put 6 on each baking tray. Chill in the fridge for at least 30 minutes.
Bake in the oven for about 15 minutes and golden. Watch carefully as too much colour can spoil the buttery taste.
Leave on the tray for 5 mins to cool before using your flat spatula to transfer to a wire rack to fully cool. Repeat for the rest of the cookies.
Apply To Defeated Face
Recipe Notes
Be sure to chill the cookies for at least 30 mins in the fridge.
I do recommend using an Oven Thermometer. All ovens temps do vary.
Remember to lightly flour your work surface and rolling pin.
Be careful when handling them fresh out of the oven. They are very crumbly for about 5 minutes afterwards.
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These look absolutely perfect! I’ve not made shortbread before which I know sounds odd. And even more odd I didn’t realise they only had three ingredients! These look like some of the best shortbread cookies I’ve seen.
Thanks Cat! You can add cornflour or rice flour or even semolina but I just like them plain like this. No fuss x
My kids love shortbread cookies! I can understand why you need them during the holidays too!
I need a huge bin liner full! Thanks Corina x
We do love shortbread in our house and kids usually insist on helping too which gets a bit messy as they are slow and their hands are so HOT 🙂 We still have two more days of long weekend left so these are bound to make an appearance at some point! Love the melted chocolate touch too! Brilliant classic! x
Thanks Jo. They are good aren’t they. I’ve eaten so many I should look like one!
I’m a big fan of shortbread and this recipe looks perfect – so easy and hardly any ingredients.
I love recipes like this. Wallop in the bowl and go! Thank you x
These look absolutely perfect! I love that you dip them in chocolate too – it’s the perfect finishing touch!
Thank you Hannah!Chocolate usually makes everything that little bit better.x
I feel your pain, but how you do make me laugh. Shortbread is my favourite biscuit. Adding chocolate makes them even better. I know it’s a pain, but dipping them in chocolate does make them look extra special.
Shortbread is mine too. I have a massive thing for the fruit shortcake biscuits, once I work out how to bake those God help me!