4.6 from 81 votes
Classic Shortbread Cookies
Classic Shortbread Cookies are buttery, crisp and so delicious. This simple 5-ingredient recipe requires very little time and effort to make the most perfect shortbread cookie you’ve ever tasted.
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
10 mins
Additional Time
45 mins
Servings: 18 (3") cookies
Calories: 92 kcal
Course:
Dessert
Cuisine:
American
Ingredients
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened 4 oz.
- ½ cup powdered sugar 2 oz./56g, sifted
- ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract 3g
- 1 1/3 cup all-purpose flour 6 oz./170g, sifted
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt 2g
Instructions
- Combine the softened butter and sifted powdered sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. Whip mixer until creamed and combined, about 2-3 minutes. (You may do this in a large bowl with a hand mixer, too.)
- Add the vanilla, and mix to combine.
- Sift the flour into the bowl on top of the wet ingredients. Add the salt, too.
- Beat the ingredients until the shortbread has just come together, about 2-3 minutes. This dough starts off as pretty crumbly, but then starts to come together. Keep an eye on it. This process is a lot faster in the stand mixer.
- Wrap the cookie dough in plastic wrap. Chill for 45 minutes in the refrigerator.
- Preheat the oven to 300°F. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper or a nonstick baking mat.
- Roll out the shortbread on a flat floured surface. The thickness should be about 1/6” thick.
- Cut out the cookies into the desired shapes. (The size of your cookie cutter, as well as the shape, will determine how many cookies you end up with.)
- Poke the tops of the shortbread cookies with a fork two to three times. This will help steam escape so that the cookies can bake more flat (and have less air bubbles.)
- Bake 20-23 minutes or until the shortbread has firmed up and is lightly golden brown.
- Let cool on a wire rack, then enjoy.
Cup of Yum
Notes
- How to store: Store in an airtight container, like a cookie tin, at room temperature for 3-4 days. Place them in a single layer, and separate the layers with parchment or wax paper. Keep them separate from other cookies, as flavor creep can happen.
Nutrition Information
Serving
1 cookie
Calories
92kcal
(5%)
Carbohydrates
10g
(3%)
Protein
1g
(2%)
Fat
5g
(8%)
Saturated Fat
3g
(15%)
Polyunsaturated Fat
0.2g
Monounsaturated Fat
1g
Trans Fat
0.2g
Cholesterol
14mg
(5%)
Sodium
66mg
(3%)
Potassium
12mg
(0%)
Fiber
0.3g
(1%)
Sugar
3g
(6%)
Vitamin A
158IU
(3%)
Calcium
3mg
(0%)
Iron
0.4mg
(2%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 18(3") cookies
Amount Per Serving
Calories 92
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 1 cookie | |
| Calories | 92kcal | 5% |
| Carbohydrates | 10g | 3% |
| Protein | 1g | 2% |
| Fat | 5g | 8% |
| Saturated Fat | 3g | 15% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.2g | 1% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 1g | 5% |
| Trans Fat | 0.2g | 10% |
| Cholesterol | 14mg | 5% |
| Sodium | 66mg | 3% |
| Potassium | 12mg | 0% |
| Fiber | 0.3g | 1% |
| Sugar | 3g | 6% |
| Vitamin A | 158IU | 3% |
| Calcium | 3mg | 0% |
| Iron | 0.4mg | 2% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.