• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Mom With Cookies

  • Desserts
  • Recipes
  • About
  • Contact
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • Desserts
  • Recipes
  • About
  • Contact
×
home » Desserts » Cookies

Easy Shortbread Cookies

by Joanna Stephens Published: Jan 21, 2020 · Updated: Dec 7, 2021 · This post may contain affiliate links. We earn commission from purchases made. ·

Sharing is caring!

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Yummly
  • Flipboard
  • Mix
  • Email
Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
collage of some homemade shortbread cookies that are stacked and some that have chocolate on them
collage of some homemade shortbread cookies that are stacked and some that have chocolate on them

Shortbread cookies are popular because they aren't too sweet, but still pack a bunch of flavor. Serve them plain, with a bowl of ice cream, or drizzle some melted chocolate over them. 

Ready to make them? Let's get to it!

Ingredients you will need:

  • 1 cup  unsalted butter + 2tbsp
  • ¾ cup granulated sugar
  • 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 2 ¼ cup all purpose flour

Here's how you make them:

Start by combining the butter and sugar together. 

softened butter and sugar in a mixing bowl

Then, add in your vanilla extract and salt (if you are using salted butter, you can leave the salt out.)

pouring the vanilla extract into the mixing bowl

Next add in the flour. Shortbread cookie dough is notoriously crumbly, but it should still be somewhat sticking together. 

flour added to mixing bowl

Cover your bowl and let it chill in the refrigerator for 30 minutes. Then, work the dough into a long rectangular log. (You could also roll these out and use a cookie cutter). 

shortbread cookie dough formed into a rectangular log

Next pre-heat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. 

With a sharp knife, slice off ¼ inch thick cookies and place on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper.

shortbread cookie dough slices placed on a cookie sheet

Bake for 13-15  minutes or until the edges are just starting to look golden. 

Let the cookies cool on a cooling rack, and then serve. I like mine with chocolate drizzled over them, but my husband likes them plain. It's up to you, but any leftovers should go in an air-tight container. 

shortbread cookies stacked on top of each other

What should I do if my Shortbread Cookie Dough is Too Crumbly?

Because there isn't a lot of liquid that is put in this cookie recipe, sometimes the dough can be too crumbly. To help the cookie mixture come together, you can mix 1 tablespoon of softened butter into your mixture. 

You can also add water, but try with the butter first. 

Also make sure you let your dough chill for 30 minutes. 

crumbly shortbread cookie dough
alternating shortbread cookies with chocolate drizzled on top and plain shortbread cookies
Print

Easy shortbread cookies

This delicious, buttery, and crisp shortbread cookies recipe is probably one of the easiest you can make! Perfect for a sweet treat that dissolves in your mouth.

Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Keyword shortbread cookies
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 14 minutes
chill dough in refrigerator 30 minutes
Total Time 54 minutes
Servings 24 cookies
Calories 143 kcal
Author Joanna Stephens

Ingredients

Ingredients

  • 18 tablespoon unsalted butter softened
  • ¾ cup granulated sugar
  • 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 2 ¼ cup all-purpose flour

Instructions

Directions

  1. Start by combining the butter and sugar together. 

  2. Then, add in your vanilla extract and salt.

  3. Next add in the flour. It may be somewhat crumbly, but starting to come together.*

  4. Cover your bowl and let it chill in the refrigerator for 30 minutes. Then, work the dough into a long rectangular log.

  5. Next pre-heat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. 

  6. With a sharp knife, slice off ¼ inch thick cookies and place on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake for 13-15  minutes or until the edges are just starting to look golden. 

  7. Let the cookies cool on a cooling rack, and then serve.

Recipe Notes

*If after your shortbread cookies have chilled in the refrigerator, the dough is still crumbly, you can add a small amount more of softened butter or water. Just enough that the dough comes together. 

Store these cookies in an air-tight container or ziploc bag. 

Nutrition Facts
Easy shortbread cookies
Amount Per Serving (1 g)
Calories 143 Calories from Fat 81
% Daily Value*
Fat 9g14%
Saturated Fat 5g31%
Cholesterol 23mg8%
Sodium 50mg2%
Potassium 15mg0%
Carbohydrates 15g5%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 6g7%
Protein 1g2%
Vitamin A 262IU5%
Calcium 4mg0%
Iron 1mg6%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Other cookie recipes you might like:

  • peanut butter cookies
  • oatmeal chocolate chip cookies
  • snickerdoodle cookies

Sharing is caring!

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Yummly
  • Flipboard
  • Mix
  • Email

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

Joanna the author of mom with cookies

Hi, I'm Joanna! Mom and baking connoisseur. I develop easy recipes that anyone can make, especially busy moms with fussy eaters. While desserts are my specialty, I have recipes for every thing!

More about me →

Easter Brunch Recipes

  • a delicious stack of french toast on a plate.
    The ULTIMATE French Toast Recipe
  • Easy breakfast potatoes
    Breakfast Potatoes Recipe
  • raspberry mousse in pink ramekins
    Raspberry Mousse Recipe
  • strawberry crisp with a few fresh strawberries beside it
    Easy Strawberry Crisp Recipe
  • a slice of no bake raspberry cream pie with fresh raspberries on top
    No Bake Raspberry Cream Pie
  • a breakfast tray carrying freshly baked banana nut muffins
    Easy Banana Nut Muffins

Top Recipes this Month

  • a slice of no bake peanut butter pie with drizzled melted peanut butter on top
    No Bake Peanut Butter Pie
  • sliced pineapple banana bread on a breakfast tray
    Hawaiian Pineapple Banana Bread Recipe
  • homemade strawberry lattice pie
    Strawberry Pie With Frozen Strawberries
  • collage of homemade Italian herb and cheese bread
    Italian Herbs and Cheese Bread
  • close up image of the bierock that was cut open
    Homemade Bierocks Recipe (Hamburger and Cabbage filled rolls)
  • homemade pumpkin bread sliced with brown butter frosting on top
    Delicious Pumpkin Bread Recipe

Features

collage of places Mom with Cookies has been featured in including huffiest yahoo chowhound today food club and yummly

Footer

↑ back to top

Connect

  • Contact
  • Sponsor

About

  • About Me
  • Accessibility

Legal

  • privacy
  • disclosures/advertising

Posts within this website may or may not contain affiliate links. You can read more on affiliate links on our disclosure page. Mom With Cookies is a participant in the Amazon Associates Program.

Copyright © 2017-2021 Mom with Cookies

Mom With Cookies
Powered by  GDPR Cookie Compliance
Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.

Strictly Necessary Cookies

Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.

If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again.