These shortbread cookies are so easy to make with only 5 ingredients, melt in your mouth, and turn out beautiful every time. They are perfect to make cut-out, pressed, or stamped shortbread cookies.
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Easiest Shortbread Cookies
These shortbread cookies are the perfect recipe to make when you’re wanting to whip up last-minute Christmas cookies. They are so easy to prepare and I bet you already have all the ingredients on hand. You don’t even need any eggs!
They have a rich buttery flavor and will literally melt in your mouth with each bite very similar to these Mexican wedding cookies or gooey butter cookies. They’re not overly sweet, but just sweet enough to do the trick. You can keep them plain, or customize the cookies with mix-ins or toppings. I have even made a twix cookie recipe with a shortbread base! They are so versatile.
Trust me, you need these traditional shortbread cookies on your Christmas dessert board this year. And you can’t host a cookie exchange without shortbread. It’s a classic cookie recipe that everyone loves!
Recipe Ingredients
With just a few ingredients these cookies are full of flavor and delicious! Each of these ingredients is known to be a pantry staple that will blend together perfectly. These are the best shortbread cookies!
Find the full printable recipe with specific measurements below.
- Butter: Soften the butter to room temperature before beating it together.
- Sugar: You have to have a little sugar in cookie dough! This will add sweetness.
- Vanilla extract: Always a favorite ingredient in cookie recipes.
- Flour: Added for the texture and thickness of the shortbread cookie.
- Sea salt: A sweet and savory cookie! Just a sprinkle will balance out the flavors.
Sugar Cookies vs. Shortbread
Although the two contain similar ingredients, shortbread cookies are eggless and also contain more butter than your classic sugar cookies. This gives them a texture that’s dense and firm, while sugar cookies are usually on the softer side. Sugar cookies also rise and spread a bit more than shortbread, giving them a bigger surface for decorating.
How to Make Shortbread Cookies
This shortbread cookie recipe starts with 5 simple ingredients: butter, sugar, vanilla, salt, and flour. That’s it!
- Preheat oven to 350°F and line a baking sheet with a silicone mat or parchment paper.
- Beat the butter, sugar, salt, and vanilla until creamy and fluffy.
- Mix in the flour slowly and stir just until combined. Roll into a log and refrigerate.
- Slice the cookie dough into rectangles or stamp lightly into flour. I like to add holes with a toothpick on top.
- Bake for 10 minutes or until the bottom is lightly golden.
What is the Secret to Good Shortbread?
There is always a hidden secret when making the best recipe! The classic shortbread cookie recipe is simple to make but these tips will make them above the rest.
- Make sure to use only real butter and vanilla in these shortbread cookies to get the best flavor.
- Chill the dough for about an hour, or until it’s firm to the touch. This helps the butter solidify so that the cookies don’t spread while baking.
- Bake them in the oven just until the bottoms are slightly golden. You don’t want to overcook these unless you like crunchy shortbread cookies.
- A little tip if using cookie stamps or cookie cutters. Make sure to dip the stamp into flour BEFORE stamping (preferably after each stamp) to keep the dough from sticking.
Recipe FAQs
Shortbread cookies are a light golden brown all around the cookie. The bottoms can be a little deeper golden brown and on the edges but not too dark.
Yes! Substitute the butter to coconut oil if you would like a different flavor.
Absolutley! If you choose to use salted butter you can omit the extra salt. Unsalted butter is mainly used in baked dishes to help control how much salt is being added to the dessert since each brand of butter has its own amount of salt being added in.
Customize Your Cookies!
These shortbread cookies taste delicious plain, but could also be dressed up with frosting, glaze, lemon, a chocolate drizzle, nuts, chocolate chips, or sprinkles. I love to double the recipe and make one batch plain and the other batch into cranberry orange shortbread cookies. They are so delicious!
Storing + Make Ahead
These cookies will stay fresh for up to 1 week in an airtight container or about 3 months in the freezer. You can also prepare the dough up to 1 week in advance. Shape into a log and then wrap tightly with saran wrap. Then store in the fridge until ready to bake.
5 star review
“Love how simple shortbread cookies are! And this is a great recipe to use as a base and then decorate as desired. We love them chocolate dipped over here!”
-Gina
Are you looking for more buttery cookies?! Try these butter cookies, gooey butter cookies, or brown butter blondies.
More Easy Cookie Recipes
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Shortbread Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter , 2 sticks at room temperature
- ¾ cup granulated sugar , or powdered sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon fine sea salt
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350ºF. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, cream the butter, sugar, salt, and vanilla on medium speed 3 minutes, or until light and fluffy. Slowly mix in the flour and stir just until combined and the dough is smooth.
- Shape the dough into a log and wrap with plastic wrap. Chill 1 hour, or until firm.
- Slice the cookie log into 1/4- to 1/2-inch thick slices. Place on the baking sheet.
- Using a toothpick, prick holes on the top of each cookie to create the look of a traditional shortbread cookie. You could also use a cookie stamp or keep plain if dipping in melted chocolate.
- Bake 10 minutes, or until the bottoms are barely golden. You don’t want the tops or edges to brown. Let cool on the cookie sheet 1 minute before transferring to a cooling rack.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.
Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below!
I will take a shortbread cookie over anything! These are my new favorite cookies, thank you!
So glad you enjoyed the shortbread cookies! Thanks for your review :)
thank you so much for sharing this amazing shortbread recipe!
So easy and delicious! My daughter had fun poking all the holes in them. A great recipe for cooking with kids!
So glad the kids enjoyed them :)
Is there a different taste or texture if you use granulated sugar or powdered sugar?
The powdered sugar does have a little bit lighter texture :)
Tastes really yummy !
Should the butter be softened first
Yes, you want both sticks of butter to be at room temperature.
If you use salted butter, would you still need to use salt in the recipe?
I think you could leave it out if using salted butter!