Shortbread or shortie is a traditional Scottish biscuit usually made from one part white sugar, two parts butter, and three to four parts plain wheat flour. Unlike many other biscuits and baked goods, shortbread does not contain any leavening, such as baking powder or baking soda.
Shortbread Cookies
These cookies are such an easy recipe to make and enjoy with your family. I love making shortbread cookies because they are so versatile and they hardly take few minutes to cook and bake. You will love it. This can be baked into any shapes and decorated as per your kids wish. Since it is christmas. I used christmas sprinkles to decorate my cookies.
This particular recipe has just three ingredients. but i added vanilla for flavour. You can skip vanilla if you want to or even add some almond extract. I dipped my cookies in chocolate after it is baked, but you can skip it too.
About Shortbread Cookies
Shortbread cookies is delicious buttery and simple cookies which you can make for your little ones. It is very versatile and can be customized to your preference.
Shortbread or shortie is a traditional Scottish biscuit usually made from one part white sugar, two parts butter, and three to four parts plain wheat flour. Unlike many other biscuits and baked goods, shortbread does not contain any leavening, such as baking powder or baking soda. Shortbread is widely associated with Christmas and Hogmanay festivities in Scotland, and some Scottish brands are exported around the world.
What i did is i made a double batch of this dough and made a variety of cookies just to show you the different versions.
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1)take soft butter in a bowl
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2)add powdered sugar
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4)add salt
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5)add vanilla
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6)mix till creamy
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7)add flour
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8)mix well to form a soft dough
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9)place the dough in plastic wrap
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10)cover it well and pop it in fridge for 1 hour. shortbread cookie dough is done.
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Ingredients to Make Shortbread
- All Purpose Flour / Maida - You can use flour or wheat flour in the cookie.
- Sugar - Use powdered sugar in the cookie dough.
- Unsalted Butter - use soft butter in your cookie dough.
- Vanilla Essence - use proper vanilla in cookie dough.
- Salt - adding a pinch of salt will adds so much taste.
How to Make Shortbread Cookies
- Take butter, sugar in a bowl and cream till fluffy. Add in vanilla, salt and mix well. Add in flour and mix well to form a dough. Wrap this in cling wrap and chill in fridge for 1 hour.
- Now roll this dough between two sheets of parchment paper or cling wrap. Use cookie cutter to cut out shapes. Pop this cut cookies in fridge for 15 mins.
- Preheat oven to 180 degree C / 350 degree F.
- Now arrange it in a baking pan lined with parchment and bake for 12 to 15 mins depending on the thickness of the rolled cookies.
- The cookies should get light golden around the edges.
- Now remove from oven and let it cool for 5 mins.
- Remove and cool it on a wire rack completely.
- Store in an airtight container.
Shortbread Variations
- Scottish Shortbread: Use 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour and ½ cup white rice flour.
- Vanilla Bean Shortbread: Split a vanilla bean in half lengthwise and use the back of a knife to scrape out the pulp. Pulse the pulp into the flour-sugar mixture before adding butter. Or add up to 1 teaspoon vanilla extract with the butter.
- Citrus Shortbread: Add 1 to 1 ½ teaspoons finely grated lemon, lime or orange zest with the flour. Add up to 1 teaspoon orange blossom water with the butter if desired. These are classic with poppy seeds.
- Nut Shortbread: Grind ½ cup toasted nuts in the food processor with the flour before combining with remaining ingredients.
- Toffee Pecan Shortbread - add ½ cup toffee bits and 1 cup chopped toasted pecan to the dough.
Shortbread Flavour Ideas
📖 Recipe

Shortbread | Shortbread Cookies | Eggless Shortbread Recipe
Ingredients
Shortbread Cookie Dough Recipe
- 150 grams Soft Unsalted Butter
- ½ cup Powdered sugar (100 grams)
- 1 tsp Vanilla Extract
- 1¾ cup All Purpose flour / Maida (210 grams)
- ⅛ tsp Salt
Variation 1 : Chocolate Dipped Shortbread Cookies
- 2 cups Dark Chocolate Chips
- ¼ cup Sprinkles
Variation 2: Cinnamon Sugar Shortbread Bars
- 3 tbsp Ground Cinnamon
- ¾ cup Sugar
- ½ batch Shortbread cookie dough
Variation 3: Nutty Shortbread Bars
- ½ batch Shortbread cookie dough
- 1½ cup Mixed Nuts (chopped)
Variation 4: Mini Shortbread
- ½ batch Shortbread cookie dough
Variation 5 : Orange Cranberry Slice & Bake Cookies
- 1 tbsp Orange Zest
- 1 cup Dried Cranberries
Instructions
Shortbread Cookie Dough
- Take butter, sugar in a bowl and cream till fluffy. Add in vanilla, salt and mix well.
- Add in flour and mix well to form a dough. sprinkle in orange zest and cranberries and mix well.
- Shape this in a log and wrap in plastic wrap. Chill this in fridge for 2 hours. This is your shortbread cookie dough.
Chocolate Dipped Shortbread Cookies
- Preheat oven to 180 degree C / 350 degree F.
- Take butter, sugar in a bowl and cream till fluffy. Add in vanilla, salt and mix well. Add in flour and mix well to form a dough.
- Unwrap and place a parchment paper on top and bottom of the dough. Roll it.
- Cut shapes using cookie cutters. Place it on a baking sheet and place in fridge for 10 mins. Bake for 15 mins.
- Now Remove and cool completely.
- Melt some chocolate and coat the cookies in chocolate and decorate with sprinkles.
Cinnamon Sugar Shortbread Bars
- Preheat oven to 160 degree C / 320 degree F.
- Take butter, sugar in a bowl and cream till fluffy. Add in vanilla, salt and mix well. Add in flour and mix well to form a dough.
- Take the dough and flatten it in a square baking pan.
- Mix sugar and cinnamon together, sprinkle this all over the dough.
- Bake for 30 to 40 mins. Now remove from oven and let it cool for 10 mins.
- Slice into bars. Arrange it in a cooling rack and cool completely. Store in an airtight jar.
Nutty Shortbread Cookies
- Preheat oven to 180 degree C / 350 degree F.
- Take butter, sugar in a bowl and cream till fluffy. Add in vanilla, salt and mix well. Add in flour and mix well to form a dough.
- Chop the nuts in to fine pieces. Sprinkle them in the bottom of the muffin pan.
- Take small portion of dough and press it over the nuts. Pop this in oven and bake for 20 to 25 mins. Now remove from oven and let it cool for 5 mins.
- Remove and cool it on a wire rack completely. Store in an airtight container.
Mini Shortbread Cookies
- Take butter, sugar in a bowl and cream till fluffy. Add in vanilla, salt and mix well. Add in flour and mix well to form a dough. Wrap this in cling wrap and chill in fridge for 1 hour.
- Now roll this dough between two sheets of parchment paper or cling wrap. Use mini cookie cutter to cut out shapes. Pop this cut cookies in fridge for 15 mins.
- Preheat oven to 180 degree C / 350 degree F.
- Now arrange it in a baking pan lined with parchment and bake for 12 to 15 mins depending on the thickness of the rolled cookies. The cookies should get light golden around the edges.
- Now remove from oven and let it cool for 5 mins. Remove and cool it on a wire rack completely. Store in an airtight container.
Orange Cranberry Slice & Bake Cookies
- Preheat oven to 180 degree C / 350 degree F.
- Take butter, sugar in a bowl and cream till fluffy. Add in vanilla, salt and mix well.Add in flour and mix well to form a dough. Add in orange zest and cranberries and mix well. Shape this in a log and wrap in plastic wrap. Chill this in fridge for 2 hours.
- Now remove from fridge, slice them into 2 cm cookies. Arrange it in a parchment lined baking tray. Bake for 12 to 15 mins.
- Now remove from oven and let it cool for 10 mins. Arrange it in a cooling rack and cool completely. Store in an airtight jar.
Video
Variation 1: Chocolate Dipping Shortbread Cookie Recipe
1)Take your cookie dough.
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2)place a plastic sheet on top
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3)roll it out
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4)remove the wrap
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5)Cut using cookie cutters
6)Like this
7)Cut strips
8)Place on a baking sheet and chill for 10 mins in fridge
9)Pop into the oven and bake
10)Take chocolate chips in a sauce pan
11)melt it gently
12)Bake cookies
13) Once cookies are cooled. Coat in chocolate
14)Decorate as per wish
15)Let it set
16)Serve
Variation 2: Cinnamon Sugar Shortbread Bars
This cinnamon sugar shortbread bars is a delicious buttery and melt in mouth cookie bar which taste so delicious.
Pictorial:
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Shortbread dough |
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Take the dough and place it in a pan |
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flatten it gently |
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take sugar in a bowl |
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add cinnamon |
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mix well |
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sprinkle this all over the dough |
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bake them |
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Serve |
Variation 3: Shortbread Cookies with Nuts Recipe
This nutty shortbread cookies with nuts which taste so delicious and filling with toasted nuts. I added nuts in this and made this in a muffin pan. So you get perfectly shaped cookies.
Pictorial:
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mix well to form a soft dough |
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chop your nuts |
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sprinkle it in the bottom of muffin pan |
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take a small portion of dough |
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place it over the nuts |
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press it evenly |
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like this |
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bake till light golden on top |
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cool for few mins and unmould |
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enjoy |
Variation 4: Mini Shortbread Cookies Recipe
These eggless shortbread cookies with step by step pictures. I used mini cookie cutters to shape this. This cookies is plain and simple. You can use any shape cookie cutter to cut out cookies. You can even dip the cookies in melted chocolate and serve.
Pictorial:
Variation 5: Orange Cranberry Slice and Bake Cookies
Delicious buttery shortbread cookies with orange zest and cranberries taste so delicious and christmassy.
Pictorial:
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mix well to form a soft dough |
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grate over orange zest |
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add cranberries |
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mix well |
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roll it into log |
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wrap it in plastic wrap |
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chill for couple of hours |
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now remove from fridge |
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slice them |
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like this |
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arrange it in a baking pan |
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bake them |
📖 Recipe

Shortbread | Shortbread Cookies | Eggless Shortbread Recipe
Ingredients
Shortbread Cookie Dough Recipe
- 150 grams Soft Unsalted Butter
- ½ cup Powdered sugar (100 grams)
- 1 tsp Vanilla Extract
- 1¾ cup All Purpose flour / Maida (210 grams)
- ⅛ tsp Salt
Variation 1 : Chocolate Dipped Shortbread Cookies
- 2 cups Dark Chocolate Chips
- ¼ cup Sprinkles
Variation 2: Cinnamon Sugar Shortbread Bars
- 3 tbsp Ground Cinnamon
- ¾ cup Sugar
- ½ batch Shortbread cookie dough
Variation 3: Nutty Shortbread Bars
- ½ batch Shortbread cookie dough
- 1½ cup Mixed Nuts (chopped)
Variation 4: Mini Shortbread
- ½ batch Shortbread cookie dough
Variation 5 : Orange Cranberry Slice & Bake Cookies
- 1 tbsp Orange Zest
- 1 cup Dried Cranberries
Instructions
Shortbread Cookie Dough
- Take butter, sugar in a bowl and cream till fluffy. Add in vanilla, salt and mix well.
- Add in flour and mix well to form a dough. sprinkle in orange zest and cranberries and mix well.
- Shape this in a log and wrap in plastic wrap. Chill this in fridge for 2 hours. This is your shortbread cookie dough.
Chocolate Dipped Shortbread Cookies
- Preheat oven to 180 degree C / 350 degree F.
- Take butter, sugar in a bowl and cream till fluffy. Add in vanilla, salt and mix well. Add in flour and mix well to form a dough.
- Unwrap and place a parchment paper on top and bottom of the dough. Roll it.
- Cut shapes using cookie cutters. Place it on a baking sheet and place in fridge for 10 mins. Bake for 15 mins.
- Now Remove and cool completely.
- Melt some chocolate and coat the cookies in chocolate and decorate with sprinkles.
Cinnamon Sugar Shortbread Bars
- Preheat oven to 160 degree C / 320 degree F.
- Take butter, sugar in a bowl and cream till fluffy. Add in vanilla, salt and mix well. Add in flour and mix well to form a dough.
- Take the dough and flatten it in a square baking pan.
- Mix sugar and cinnamon together, sprinkle this all over the dough.
- Bake for 30 to 40 mins. Now remove from oven and let it cool for 10 mins.
- Slice into bars. Arrange it in a cooling rack and cool completely. Store in an airtight jar.
Nutty Shortbread Cookies
- Preheat oven to 180 degree C / 350 degree F.
- Take butter, sugar in a bowl and cream till fluffy. Add in vanilla, salt and mix well. Add in flour and mix well to form a dough.
- Chop the nuts in to fine pieces. Sprinkle them in the bottom of the muffin pan.
- Take small portion of dough and press it over the nuts. Pop this in oven and bake for 20 to 25 mins. Now remove from oven and let it cool for 5 mins.
- Remove and cool it on a wire rack completely. Store in an airtight container.
Mini Shortbread Cookies
- Take butter, sugar in a bowl and cream till fluffy. Add in vanilla, salt and mix well. Add in flour and mix well to form a dough. Wrap this in cling wrap and chill in fridge for 1 hour.
- Now roll this dough between two sheets of parchment paper or cling wrap. Use mini cookie cutter to cut out shapes. Pop this cut cookies in fridge for 15 mins.
- Preheat oven to 180 degree C / 350 degree F.
- Now arrange it in a baking pan lined with parchment and bake for 12 to 15 mins depending on the thickness of the rolled cookies. The cookies should get light golden around the edges.
- Now remove from oven and let it cool for 5 mins. Remove and cool it on a wire rack completely. Store in an airtight container.
Orange Cranberry Slice & Bake Cookies
- Preheat oven to 180 degree C / 350 degree F.
- Take butter, sugar in a bowl and cream till fluffy. Add in vanilla, salt and mix well.Add in flour and mix well to form a dough. Add in orange zest and cranberries and mix well. Shape this in a log and wrap in plastic wrap. Chill this in fridge for 2 hours.
- Now remove from fridge, slice them into 2 cm cookies. Arrange it in a parchment lined baking tray. Bake for 12 to 15 mins.
- Now remove from oven and let it cool for 10 mins. Arrange it in a cooling rack and cool completely. Store in an airtight jar.
Uma
Hi Aarthi can we use wheat flour for this recipe, is there any changes in the measurements if we use wheat flour