Description
Buttery, melt-in-your-mouth shortbread cookies that bake up crisp at the edges and tender in the center. Just 4 ingredients and 30 minutes—perfect for holiday tins or tea time.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup (226 g) unsalted butter, softened
- 1/2 cup (60 g) powdered sugar
- 2 cups (250 g) all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Pinch of salt
Instructions
- Cream butter and powdered sugar until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes.
- Mix in flour, vanilla, and salt just until a soft dough forms—do not overmix.
- Roll 1/4-inch thick, cut shapes, and bake at 325°F (165°C) for 18–20 minutes. Cool on a rack.
Notes
Tested twice; best texture at a 10-minute chill before rolling. For gluten-free, use a 1:1 blend with xanthan gum. For dairy-free, use unsalted plant butter. To refresh, warm at 275°F (135°C) for 5 minutes.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: Scottish
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 120
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 45 mg
- Fat: 8 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Carbohydrates: 12 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 1 g
- Cholesterol: 20 mg
Keywords: easy shortbread cookies, buttery cookies, holiday treats, Christmas cookies, 4-ingredient cookies, no eggs