Servings
Font
Back
4.7 from 33 votes

Ridiculously Easy Brown Sugar Shortbread

This one-bowl, no-mixer, Ridiculously Easy Brown Sugar Shortbread takes minutes to put together. The dough is pressed into a pan, so there's no scooping, rolling or cutting. Oh yeah, and all the taste-testers also say it's ridiculously delicious!

Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
10 mins
Total Time
30 mins
Servings: 12
Calories: 137 kcal
Course: Dessert , Baked Goods
Cuisine: American , Scottish

Ingredients

For the shortbread:
  • 4 ounces very soft butter (1 stick)
  • 6 tablespoons packed light brown sugar
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
For the topping:
  • 2 tablespoons turbinado sugar
  • Flaky sea salt I love Maldon

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Place an oven rack in the middle position in your oven. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spray a 9-inch tart pan with removable bottom (or a 9-inch cake pan) with baking spray and line the bottom of the pan with parchment paper.
  2. In a medium-large bowl, stir the butter until smooth and creamy. Add the brown sugar, salt, and vanilla and stir again until smooth and creamy.
  3. Add the flour and stir until just combined and all the flour disappears and the mixture starts to form into a ball.
  4. Press the dough into the bottom of the tart (or cake) pan. If your fingers are sticking to the dough just dip them in some flour from time to time. Using a fork, poke the dough randomly several times. (this will keep it from puffing up)
  5. Bake for 10 minutes then remove from the oven and sprinkle with the turbinado sugar (and flaky sea salt, if desired).
  6. Bake for another 7-12 minutes longer or until deep golden brown.
  7. Remove the pan from the oven and invert the shortbread onto a dinner size plate. Invert again onto a cutting board so the sugared side is up and cut into wedges while hot (a pizza cutter works great for this). Transfer the wedges to a cooling rack.
  8. Hide a couple of wedges for yourself in a secret place because once the rest of the family discovers them, they will disappear before you can blink your eyes!

Notes

  • See Café Tips above in the post for further instructions and tips.
  • Recipe adapted from One-Bowl Baking.

Nutrition Information

Calories 137kcal (7%) Carbohydrates 16g (5%) Protein 1g (2%) Fat 8g (12%) Saturated Fat 5g (25%) Cholesterol 20mg (7%) Sodium 166mg (7%) Potassium 19mg (1%) Fiber 1g (4%) Sugar 8g (16%) Vitamin A 236IU (5%) Calcium 9mg (1%) Iron 1mg (6%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 12Serving

Amount Per Serving

Calories 137

% Daily Value*

Calories 137kcal 7%
Carbohydrates 16g 5%
Protein 1g 2%
Fat 8g 12%
Saturated Fat 5g 25%
Cholesterol 20mg 7%
Sodium 166mg 7%
Potassium 19mg 0%
Fiber 1g 4%
Sugar 8g 16%
Vitamin A 236IU 5%
Calcium 9mg 1%
Iron 1mg 6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.