Shortbread Cookies are a soft, crumbly, and classic buttery Christmas cookie that melts in your mouth. These easy cookies are made using a cookie press to create perfect holiday bites.
When I bite into one of these delicious shortbread cookies, it just brings me back to my Grandma’s kitchen filled with butter cookies, sugar cookies, and these beauties.
What Are Shortbread Cookies?
Everyone has that one Christmas cookie that just tastes like the holidays… this is mine!
Shortbread cookies are actually very simple to make and require ingredients you likely already have on hand! They are a butter-based cookie that will literally melt in your mouth! I use a cookie press to make these cookies so they do look similar to a Spritz Cookie. The texture and flavor are different as spritz cookies generally contain an egg while shortbread does not.
One thing to remember is that all of the flavors in these cookies comes from butter and vanilla. This is a good place to splurge and buy a butter you know and love (rather than a store brand), it will definitely show in the flavor of your cookies. I use high-quality vanilla as well.
How to Make Shortbread Cookies
This shortbread cookie recipe is especially close to my heart. I didn’t eat a ton of cookies but I could never resist my Grandma’s shortbread cookies. This recipe has been tested over and over and recently updated to make it easier and for the best flavor!
- Cream butter, sugar, and vanilla.
- Mix the dry ingredients and blend in butter mixture until combined.
- Use a cookie press to press out the dough onto ungreased cookie tray. (Or, if you don’t have a press, follow the recipe suggestion)
To ensure the shortbread cookies don’t turn out too dense make sure to measure the flour properly.
How To Bake Shortbread Cookies
Make sure the oven is preheated to 350°F. I like to line the tray with parchment for perfect cookies every time. However, without parchment, your cookies will still turn out great, just bake them following the recipe instructions below!
I am lucky enough to have an old vintage cookie press that I’ve had for years (check your local thrift shops, they turn up from time to time). It creates the same beautiful cookies from my childhood! But if you don’t have a cookie press, use a fork or alternatively, a glass to press the cookies into a flattened shape about 1/4 inch thick on the tray.
Can You Freeze Shortbread Cookie Dough?
Shortbread dough can be frozen for up to three months. Once you thaw it and bake it, it shouldn’t be refrozen again, so alternatively, try baking the cookies before freezing in tins (there really is nothing quite like the taste of a frozen shortbread cookie!) You can freeze them with or without icing.
Shortbread cookies are a staple at Christmas. The holidays just wouldn’t be quite the same without them!
Delicious Holiday Cookies
- Candy Cane Cookies – perfectly peppermint flavored!
- Easy Chocolate Truffles – moist, rich, & delicious
- Thumbprint Cookies – classic christmas cookie!
- Eggnog Cookies – soft & chewy dessert
- Perfect Gingerbread Cookies – great for decorating!
- Chocolate Chip Shortbread Cookies – a fun twist on a classic
Note: While this recipe has been made many times as written, measurements have been slightly adjusted to create more consistent results.
Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter softened, see note
- ½ cup powdered sugar
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ cup cornstarch
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F
- Cream butter until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add powdered sugar and vanilla and mix until combined.
- Mix in cornstarch and salt.
- Add flour a little bit at a time. Beat until just combined.
- Place dough into a cookie press and press onto an ungreased pan. Add sprinkles or colored sugar if desired.
- Bake 9-11 minutes or just until done. Immediately transfer to a wire rack to cool.
- Cool and then transfer to an airtight container. Store at room temperature at least 24 hours before serving.
Notes
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.
Course Cookies, Dessert, Snack
Cuisine American© SpendWithPennies.com. Content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited. Please view my photo use policy here.
The Best Shortbread Cookie Icing
Of course you can use classic sugar cookie icing to decorate shortbread cookies.
- Or, try serving them up on a platter with chocolate buttercream frosting and a knife for spreading it!
- My kids love to drizzle or dip shortbread cookies in melted chocolate. Mix a cup of chocolate chips with half a teaspoon of oil, and microwave at 10 second intervals, stirring until the chips melt. You can use white chocolate chips for this, caramel, or peanut butter, too!
- Or, the heck with it, just grab a jar of Nutella or make your own and have at it!
Grandmas cookies are shown with frosting….which is missing from the recipe.
These cookies are not frosted.
I will try these for Christmas, I usually make 9 or 10 different kind
May I share a secret with you? If you use sifted (before measuring) of Swan’s Down Cake Flour, you won’t need the cornstarch. You won’t have a “flour” taste either. It’s pure buttery light as air, melt in your mouth heaven!
I’ll have to see if I can get some of that flour and give it a try!
These cookies are fantastic. And they would look great in a Holiday cookie canister from Tupperware.
Can the short bread cookies be made using a cookie press?
Yes these are made with a cookie press.
Seems very interesting. Gotta try it
Thanks Betty
I’m loving your recipies! Photos are beautiful and the food is GREAT!! thank you so much!!
Just made these into “fingers” for dipping ends in chocolate and roll in nuts or sprinkles. Amazing cookies! I haven’t dipped them yet…I hope there are some left to dip! ( A half batch made 45 2″long fingers.)
I have written this recipe in my cookie press book; it will be my go-to since I used to not be a cookie press cookie fan
What a delicious idea! Thank you for sharing!
my son and I planned to make shortbread cookies today, but when I got to his house I had left my recipe at home. Things happen to a reason! went online and found Grandmas shortbread recipe…needless to say it will be the recipe I will continue to use, they are delicious
I’m so glad you enjoyed them as much as I do Marilyn!
About how many cookies does this make?
This should make about 40 cookies but will vary slightly based on the shapes of cookies you choose.
I made these today, though without a cookie press. The first shortbread that actually kept its shape and it’s so melt-in-your-mouth-delicious! Great recipe.
So glad you enjoyed them! :)
Why do you use the corn starch.
It helps to create that melt in your mouth texture.
Does it matter if I use salted or unsalted butter?
I use unsalted butter
What cookie press do you use to get this shape? It looks more like a Wilton 1M tip and not a cookie press disk, but the dough was too think when I tried. Still came out delicious though!
I’ve tried to find one similar online to show you but I haven’t seen one. This cookie press disk has 7 star shapes on it in a circle, the cookie press itself is probably 40 years old. :)
Thank you! With your description I was able to find a vintage cookie press on Etsy with that disk. Can’t wait till it gets here to try it out!
Oh that’s awesome Kelly, I just love the vintage presses! :)
So glad to hear I wasn’t a cookie press failure! The dough was too thick but I am definitely going to find a vintage cookie press!
I make this dough and divide into 2-4 portions and roll into logs wrap well and freeze. later I thaw in fridge and treat as well chilled dough and slice and bake. I like to make them about 1/8″ thick slices bake till lightly browned on edges. Cool, dip in melted chocolate and garnish with sprinkles if desired for entertaining and gifts. However they are definitely a diet disaster. you just can’t eat just one!
I’ve never tried dipping them in chocolate.. that would be delicious!!
i have made these cookies for many years. I got the recipe from my mother-in-law. They are so good. They melt in your mouth. Hard to eat just one.
About how many does this recipe make.. seems like alot. Should be a problem to half it right? Seems like pretty round numbers..lol
You can definitely half this recipe.
love the recipes
Thank you!
i love your food and desert