Traditional shortbread

Discover the perfect recipe for traditional shortbread with just four simple ingredients. Combine rich butter and sugar with a blend of all-purpose white wheat flour and white rice flour for a delightfully crumbly and buttery treat that melts in your mouth.

  • 09 Mar 2025
  • Cook time 40 min
  • Prep time 15 min
  • 18 Servings
  • 4 Ingredients

Traditional shortbread

Shortbread is a classic Scottish treat known for its buttery and crumbly texture. This traditional shortbread recipe uses simple ingredients to create a rich and melt-in-your-mouth cookie that’s perfect for any occasion.

Ingredients:

1 cup butter
220g
1/2 cup sugar
100g
2.50 cups all-purpose white wheat flour
310g
1/2 cup white rice flour
90g

Instructions:

1. Preheat Your Oven:
- Preheat your oven to 325°F (165°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or lightly grease it.
2. Cream the Butter and Sugar:
- In a large mixing bowl, use an electric mixer to cream the butter until smooth and fluffy.
- Gradually add in the sugar. Continue to beat the mixture until it's light and well-creamed, which should take about 2-3 minutes.
3. Mix the Flours:
- In a separate bowl, combine the all-purpose white wheat flour and the white rice flour. Mix them well to ensure an even distribution of the rice flour within the wheat flour.
4. Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients:
- Gradually add the flour mixture to the butter and sugar mixture. You can do this in batches to avoid a flour cloud. Mix at low speed until the dough starts to come together. The dough will be crumbly at first, but it should start to form a cohesive dough as you mix it.
5. Form the Dough:
- Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Gently knead the dough until it comes together into a smooth ball. Be careful not to over-knead; you don’t want to develop the gluten in the wheat flour, which could make the shortbread tough.
6. Shape the Shortbread:
- Roll the dough out to about 1/2-inch thickness. You can use a rolling pin and ensure an even thickness by using rolling pin guides or rolling between two spaced objects.
- Use a cookie cutter or a knife to cut the rolled dough into desired shapes. Traditional shortbread is often cut into rectangles or wedges.
7. Chill (Optional):
- If the dough is too soft at this stage, you can place the cut cookies on the prepared baking sheet and chill them in the refrigerator for 15-20 minutes. This step can help the cookies maintain their shape during baking.
8. Bake the Shortbread:
- Arrange the cut dough pieces on the prepared baking sheet, spacing them slightly apart.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes, or until the edges just start to turn golden but not brown. Shortbread is known for its pale color, so avoid overbaking.
9. Cool:
- Remove the baking sheet from the oven and allow the shortbread to cool on the sheet for about 5 minutes. Then, transfer the cookies to a wire rack to cool completely.
10. Serve and Enjoy:
- Once the shortbread has cooled completely, it's ready to be enjoyed. Store any leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature.

Tips:

- Use high-quality butter for the best flavor and texture. Because butter is the primary flavor in shortbread, it's crucial to use a good one.

- Ensure the butter is at room temperature to make it easier to cream with the sugar and to achieve a better texture.

- Do not overmix the dough. Mixing too much will develop the gluten in the flour, making the shortbread tough rather than tender and crumbly.

- Chill the dough before baking. This helps the shortbread maintain its shape and prevents it from spreading too much in the oven.

- Use a sharp knife to cut the dough into pieces, or use a cookie cutter for uniform shapes.

- Bake until the edges are just beginning to turn golden. This will ensure a perfect, tender texture without over-baking.

By following this traditional shortbread recipe and incorporating these tips, you'll be able to create a delicious treat that captures the essence of classic Scottish baking. Perfect to enjoy with a cup of tea or coffee, or to share with friends and family, these shortbread cookies are sure to be a hit!

Nutrition Facts
Serving Size40 grams
Energy
Calories 190kcal10%
Protein
Protein 2.53g2%
Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates 22g6%
Fiber 0.55g1%
Sugar 6g6%
Fat
Fat 10g12%
Saturated 6g19%
Cholesterol 30mg-
Vitamins
Vitamin A 90ug10%
Choline 4.39mg1%
Vitamin B1 0.06mg5%
Vitamin B2 0.00mg0%
Vitamin B3 0.34mg2%
Vitamin B6 0.02mg1%
Vitamin B9 5ug1%
Vitamin B12 0.00ug0%
Vitamin C 0.00mg0%
Vitamin E 0.02mg0%
Vitamin K 0.91ug1%
Minerals
Calcium, Ca 7mg1%
Copper, Cu 0.05mg5%
Iron, Fe 0.23mg2%
Magnesium, Mg 8mg2%
Phosphorus, P 30mg2%
Potassium, K 33mg1%
Selenium, Se 3.79ug7%
Sodium, Na 1.88mg0%
Zinc, Zn 0.27mg2%
Water
Water 4.44g-
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

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