Makinze is currently senior food editor at Delish, where she develops recipes, creates, and hosts recipe videos and is our current baking queen. She is our expert pie crimper, believes you should always have the ingredients for chocolate chip cookies on hand, and everyone needs to know a perfect roast chicken recipe.
Store-bought shortbread from a holiday cookie tin are very good. But homemade is even better. Luckily they're even easier to make than chocolate chip cookies. And they're perfect for dipping in coffee or hot chocolate.
Our classic recipe is great as is, but one of the best parts about shortbread is that you can infinitely adapt it. Feel free to use our basic formula as a base and take if from there. Here are just a few fun variations to try out.
CITRUS
Add about 1 tablespoon of lemon or orange (or both!) zest to the dough with your butter to make a slightly tart cookie
SAVORY
Leave out the vanilla and trade the sugar for grated Parmesan and add some freshly cracked black pepper. It makes a delicious appetizer or snack!
ALMOND
Instead of vanilla extract use 1/2 teaspoon of almond extract. If you want some crunch, add 1/4 cup of finely chopped almonds or pecans crunch too!
CHOCOLATE
Replace 1/2 cup of flour with 1/2 cup of cocoa powder for the chocolate lovers in your life.
Editor's Note: This recipe was tested and updated on September 10, 2020 after noticing comments about the cookies not being sweet enough.
- Yields:
- 16
- Prep Time:
- 5 mins
- Total Time:
- 1 hr 15 mins
Ingredients
- 1 c.
(2 sticks) butter, softened
- 1 c.
powdered sugar
- 1 tsp.
pure vanilla extract
- 2 1/2 c.
all-purpose flour
- 1/2 tsp.
kosher salt
- 1
egg white mixed with 1 tbsp. water
Coarse sugar, for sprinkling
- Nutrition Information
- Calories3290 Fat187 gSaturated fat117 gTrans fat7 gCholesterol488 mgSodium1019 mgCarbohydrates359 gFiber8 gSugar127 gProtein37 gVitamin D3 mcgCalcium106 mgIron15 mgPotassium441 mg
- Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.Powered by
Directions
- Step 1Preheat oven to 325° and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. In a large bowl using a hand mixer, beat together butter and powdered sugar then add vanilla. Add flour and salt and beat until combined. If dough is still crumbly, press together with your hands into a cohesive dough. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
- Step 2On a floured surface, roll dough out into an 8"-x-8" square, about ½” thick. Use a bench knife to guide edges of dough into a neat square shape.
- Step 3Cut dough into 2” squares and place on prepared pan. Brush cookies with egg wash, then sprinkle cookies with coarse sugar and bake until lightly golden and set, 18 to 20 minutes.