0 from 0 votes
Basic Vanilla Shortbread
Makes about 4 dozen small shortbread. This recipe can be divided into four and a dozen of each variety of cookies made from the suggestions in the notes, or you can make the entire batch into the shortbread of your choosing
Prep Time
1 hr
Cook Time
mins
Servings: 48 cookies
Calories: 100 kcal
Course:
Dessert
Cuisine:
Irish
Ingredients
- 3/4 pound unsalted butter at room temperature (1 1/2 cups or 3 sticks)
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, mix together the butter and sugar until they are just combined. Add the vanilla.
- In a medium bowl, sift together the flour and salt, then add them to the butter-and-sugar mixture. Mix on low speed until the dough starts to come together.
- Dump onto a surface dusted with flour and bring everything together with your hands. Divide dough into four pieces and flatten slightly. Wrap each piece in plastic and chill OR prepare one of the shortbread cookie recipes below
Cup of Yum
Notes
- In addition to the 4 variations listed in this post, some livelier adaptations include:
- Dried Fruit: Cherries, cranberries, and other dried fruits add wonderful textures and flavor to shortbread.
- Almond: Add 1/4 cup powdered almonds and 1 tsp almond extract to the creamed butter.
- Lemon: Add 2 teaspoons lemon zest and a few drops of lemon extract if desired. Experiment with all types of citrus.
- Ginger: Substitute brown sugar for the white sugar in basic recipe. To the flour mixture add 1 tsp ground ginger, 1 tsp ground cinnamon and a pinch of cloves.
- Chocolate: Add ½ cup cocoa to the flour and salt and proceed with recipe. Dip cooked cookies in dark chocolate for an irresistible double-chocolate cookie.
- Espresso: Dissolve 2 tablespoons espresso powder in 1 teaspoon hot water. Add to creamed butter and sugar mixture before adding flour.
- Nuts: Add lightly toasted and chopped hazelnuts, pecans, or (insert your favorite nut variety here) to give a lovely texture and flavor to your shortbread.
- Herbs: Rosemary is spectacular when paired with lemon, as is lavender, so don’t rule out the spice & herb cabinet when creating your perfect shortbread.
Nutrition Information
Calories
100kcal
(5%)
Carbohydrates
11g
(4%)
Protein
1g
(2%)
Fat
6g
(9%)
Saturated Fat
4g
(20%)
Cholesterol
15mg
(5%)
Sodium
13mg
(1%)
Potassium
11mg
(0%)
Fiber
1g
(4%)
Sugar
4g
(8%)
Vitamin A
177IU
(4%)
Calcium
3mg
(0%)
Iron
1mg
(6%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 48cookies
Amount Per Serving
Calories 100
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 100kcal | 5% |
| Carbohydrates | 11g | 4% |
| Protein | 1g | 2% |
| Fat | 6g | 9% |
| Saturated Fat | 4g | 20% |
| Cholesterol | 15mg | 5% |
| Sodium | 13mg | 1% |
| Potassium | 11mg | 0% |
| Fiber | 1g | 4% |
| Sugar | 4g | 8% |
| Vitamin A | 177IU | 4% |
| Calcium | 3mg | 0% |
| Iron | 1mg | 6% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.