Simple Shortbread: One Recipe, Four Cookies

Christmas cookies are everywhere you look these days. This month, magazines have devoted entire issues to them, bloggers and bakers just wrapped a #cookieweek theme on Twitter.

Cookbooks are inundating us with endless options for sweet, buttery goodness. Every year there is some new trend, some riff on a classic or old favourite, but it is rare that I am swayed.

Sure, I try a few new cookie recipes every holiday season, but one variety that I am eternally devoted to are shortbread.

No matter how busy I am during the weeks leading up to the holidays, I always make time for classic homemade shortbread. This simple combination of just a few ingredients claims to be the best cookie ever and I tend to agree. I even love it in bar form, which does save some time.

If you are bored with the classic recipe, the good news for you is that there are many variations that you can make on the standard, as this type of cookie lends itself well to flavourings.

Chocolate-dipped, jam filled or rolled in powdered sugar – the combinations are endless and I am here for them all!

Here are directions for making four different varieties of shortbread using the same dough. All are simple to make and don’t require the extra step of rolling dough and cutting shapes (although that is a fine option and the dough works well for that method too).

Basic Vanilla Shortbread

The master recipes! Save this one to keep and pass down to your children. Use the best butter you can afford and organic, all-purpose flour.

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
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Course: Desserts
Cuisine: Irish
Prep Time: 1 hour
Cook Time: 12 minutes
Servings: 48 cookies
Calories: 100kcal
Author: Ina Garten

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

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

Calories: 100kcal | Carbohydrates: 11g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 15mg | Sodium: 13mg | Potassium: 11mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 177IU | Calcium: 3mg | Iron: 1mg

One Recipe, Four Types of Cookies

Now, you have your basic vanilla shortbread dough, you can choose to roll out the dough, cut out shapes and bake them into cookies. But I suggest you try one (or all) of the four delicious shortbread recipe variations below!

Chocolate- Dipped Shortbread Diamonds

Chocolate-Dipped Shortbread Diamonds

One of 4 fantastic ways to use Basic Vanilla Shorbread
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Course: Desserts
Cook Time: 16 minutes
Chilling Time: 30 minutes
Servings: 12 cookies
Calories: 144kcal

Ingredients

  • 1/4 recipe Basic Vanilla Shortbread
  • 1/2 cup dark chocolate chopped

Instructions

  • Press one quarter of the cookie dough into a 7×7 square pan that has been lined with parchment paper. Pat down firmly.
  • Using a small ruler and a sharp knife, cut dough diagonally into strips, and then from top to bottom, making about a dozen diamond-shaped cookies. Chill for 30 minutes.
  • Preheat the oven to 350°F. Bake for about 16-20 minutes and slightly golden around the edges. Meanwhile, melt the chocolate on low in the microwave and stir until smooth.
  • Remove pan from oven and allow pan to cool slightly. Remove shortbread from pan using the parchment and place on a cutting board.
  • Using a sharp chef’s knife, cut the shortbread into diamonds using the pre-made lines. Dip into melted chocolate until half-covered and place on a wire rack to set.

Nutrition

Calories: 144kcal | Carbohydrates: 14g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 15mg | Sodium: 14mg | Potassium: 63mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 177IU | Calcium: 8mg | Iron: 2mg

Jam Shortbread Thumbprints

These are my favourite! I love using a tart and tangy jam such as black currant to really contrast with the buttery cookies.

Jam Shortbread Thumbprints

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Course: Desserts
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Chilling Time: 30 minutes
Servings: 12 cookies
Calories: 105kcal

Ingredients

  • 1/4 recipe Basic Vanilla Shortbread
  • 3 tsp jam or jelly of your choosing

Instructions

  • Roll shortbread into 1-inch balls and place on a cookie sheet. Flatten slightly with your palm.
  • Make a small indentation in the top of the cookie using your thumb or finger. Spoon about a 1/4 teaspoon of jam into the hole. Chill for 30 minutes.
  • Preheat the oven to 350°F. Bake for about 10-12 minutes and golden on the bottoms.

Nutrition

Calories: 105kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 15mg | Sodium: 14mg | Potassium: 11mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 177IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 3mg | Iron: 1mg

Russian Tea Cakes

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Course: Desserts
Cook Time: 12 minutes
Chilling Time: 30 minutes
Servings: 12 cookies
Calories: 119kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 ball shortbread dough
  • 1/2 cup powdered sugar

Instructions

  • Roll shortbread dough into 1/2 inch balls and place on a baking sheet. Chill for 30 minutes. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
  • Bake for 12-16 minutes until slightly golden on the bottom.
  • Place powdered sugar in a medium-sized bowl and add warm cookies. Toss to coat.
  • Place on a cooling rack and allow tea cakes to cool. Toss again in powdered sugar and store in a cool dry place.

Nutrition

Calories: 119kcal | Carbohydrates: 16g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 15mg | Sodium: 13mg | Potassium: 11mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 177IU | Calcium: 3mg | Iron: 1mg

Lemon-Glazed Shortbread

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Course: Desserts
Cook Time: 12 minutes
Servings: 12 cookies
Calories: 122kcal

Ingredients

  • 1/4 recipe Basic Vanilla Shortbread
  • 1 Tablespoon freshly-squeezed lemon juice
  • 1/2 cup powdered sugar
  • Sprinkles or decoration of your choosing

Instructions

  • Shape the dough into a log and roll to smooth the edges. Wrap in plastic wrap and chill for 30 minutes.
  • Preheat the oven to 350°F. Unwrap the shortbread log and slice into 1/4 inch rounds (or thicker if you prefer) and place onto cookie sheet. Bake about 10-12 minutes and until slightly golden. Cool.
  • Mix together powdered sugar and lemon juice. Add a few more drops of lemon juice if mixture is not runny enough.
  • Spoon glaze onto cookies and add decorations, if desired. Allow icing to harden for several hours. Store in an airtight container.

Nutrition

Calories: 122kcal | Carbohydrates: 17g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 15mg | Sodium: 13mg | Potassium: 11mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 177IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 3mg | Iron: 1mg

More Variations

This weekend I’ll be hosting my annual holiday cookie swap, one of the most anticipated events of the year; well, for me, anyway! I haven’t decided what I’m making yet, but it could very well be a classic shortbread or one of the many adaptations offered. Either way, there are lots of ways to enjoy your holiday shortbread!

You make also like: A Holiday Cookie Recipe Round-Up!

Do you have a favorite flavour of shortbread?

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85 Comments

  1. We always dip our thumbprints in whipped egg white and then roll in chopped nuts before making the indent and adding the jam. It’s messy fun for my kids and those are the first cookies to disappear.

  2. We have to be dairy-free (and egg- and tree nut/peanut-free) because of allergies. Do you think these would come out okay if I used Earth Balance in place of the butter?

  3. I love this!! The pictures are beautiful, and no one would ever guess that they are all from the same cookie recipe!!

  4. I adore shortbread. There are so many versatile things you can do with it. Last year we added candied ginger and orange zest and then dipped one side in white chocolate. They were such a hit that I’ve added them to my regular cookie baking rotation.

  5. I’m not a big shortbread fan, but it’s nice to know that it’s so versatile. It would definitely be a good gift, since they look so nice! I’ve made baskets for people before, and I’ve put mini bundt cakes, a box of homemade chocolate, and some cookies. Snickerdoodles are my favorite!

  6. Love this idea – so easy! Such variety! We were out of eggs this weekend (ack!) and wanting to make cookies for kiddo-decorating. I actually looked at a shortbread recipe, but didn’t know if it would roll and cut into shapes well (we went to the store instead). Now I know!

  7. Thanks for this! All the recipes and variations look awesome!

    Do you think this dough would freeze well? If so, I’m guessing you would put it in to freeze at the “chill” stage?

  8. We’ve been cracking black walnuts around here and my mother-in-law made some amazing shortbread cookies that I’ve been meaning to duplicate for our Christmas treats.

    While we don’t normally make shortbread, my husband makes butter cookies each year with a cookie press so we get a large variety of shapes and flavors from one basic cookie dough. It really is a time saver.

  9. I use Ina’s recipe as well, and it’s a gem. I love the four variations you have here…so colourful and creative. I really, really adore a chocolate dipped shortbread, and this year we’ve expanded on that a little to make a Nutella-shortbread cookie sandwich. Definitely a keeper!

  10. These look fantastic! One of my kids has gone vegan so I’m wondering if I could do a batch with coconut oil (which is solid at room temp like butter but not hydrogenated like shortening) instead. I’m sure it wouldn’t taste as fabulous, but maybe with a bit of flavoring…. It might be a fun experiment anyway. 🙂

  11. My regular shortbread recipe is from Chatelaine magazine — it calls for icing sugar rather than granulated sugar. So I am curious about the remark for the ginger variation “substitute brown sugar for the icing sugar.” Which do you use for the basic recipe? My most popular variation is to add chopped Toblerone (or President’s Choice version). Rosemary and pine nut is also a nice savoury variation.

  12. Beautiful theme and variations. Any of them would be wonderful for a party or a cookie exchange, and the fact that they’re simple to make is a bonus for this time of year!

  13. I make a cookie that is one I started making with my Grandmother MANY years ago and when asked to describe it I was sort of flummoxed but feel more confident today that I said it was like a shortbread cookie rolled into a ball with pecans in the dough…cause that’s almost the same as the dough used here for Russian Tea Cakes. I had just never associated shortbread with a ball form before.

    This is a great recipe with all of the different types that can be made at a time when we can barely find time for one cookie, much less an assortment. Thanks!

  14. I love all the ideas with just one cookie dough! I never thought of all the diff type of cookies that could be made with shortbread dough; I’m definitely going to do a bunch for my holiday baking.

  15. I think I may try a version with the espresso added and then dipped into the dark chocolate. I think that would be a great combination.

  16. I love the variety that comes out of a shortbread cookie dough recipe. So cool 🙂 I just baked some yummy almond thumbprint cookies and I love to add some eggwash just to give some shine to the cookies. Happy Holidays Aimee 🙂

    1. Hmm, it is supposed a bit crumbly, but not overly. Was your butter nice and soft? Let it sit for a few minutes, the butter will soften even more, then bring it together firmly with your hands.

  17. I don’t know what I could have done wrong but I made this this morning and just dumped them all in the trash. The cookies came out so BITTER. I don’t know if vanilla goes bad or my butter wasn’t fresh enough or what. They truely came out tasting like bitter flour. Even with the raspberry jam in the thumb prints it didn’t cut the nasty taste. For me, I think I will leave the cookie baking to the professionals and I will stick to baking and decorating cakes.

  18. This recipe looks delicious. Can’t wait for an excuse to give them a try since our whole family loves shortbread. Added a link to this recipe in a post I did recently about buttery jam cookies.

  19. Pingback: 101 Days of Christmas: Shortbread Thumbprints